Kawhi Leonard’s seven-year run with the Los Angeles Clippers has come under renewed scrutiny after the NBA fined the franchise $30 million and took away five future first-round picks over salary-cap circumvention. Leonard was fined $700,000, while owner Steve Ballmer and executive Lawrence Frank were also suspended.
With the fallout adding another complication to Leonard’s Los Angeles tenure, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has now given his blunt assessment of the entire era.
Kendrick Perkins Takes Aim at Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard Era
Perkins did not mince words when assessing Leonard’s time in Los Angeles on “Get Up ESPN” on Thursday. The former Boston Celtics center claimed that the Leonard era in Los Angeles was a “disaster.”
“Kawhi Leonard is arguably one of the worst free agent signings in NBA history. Since he put on a Clipper uniform, it has been nothing but a disaster for the organization. Not only did he force them to trade SGA along with five first-round picks to bring in Paul George in order for him to sign with the Clippers, now we’re to this point,” Perkins said, adding, “And what have they got in return? Nothing.”
“[Uncle Dennis] took the charge for Kawhi. He stood in the paint.”@KendrickPerkins reacts to the Kawhi situation 🏀 pic.twitter.com/NDB9IpKFTS
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 3, 2026
Leonard joined the Clippers as a free agent, with the franchise also acquiring Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round draft picks, and pick-swaps.
The two stars were never able to win the title, with injuries and postseason troubles getting in the way. In 2021, Leonard suffered an ACL tear against the Utah Jazz in the conference semifinals. The Clippers advanced to their first-ever Western Conference Finals without him, where they fell to the Phoenix Suns.
The ruling adds to the Clippers’ long-term costs, leaving the franchise with fewer assets to rebuild following the Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors. Perkins pointed directly to the organizational fallout, saying, “Now all of a sudden Steve Ballmer, Lawrence Frank suspended and cost them additional five first-round picks.”
Ballmer was suspended for a year, Frank for six months, while Leonard was fined $700,000. His uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, received a five-year ban from conducting business with any NBA team.
For Perkins, the fallout only reinforced his view that Leonard has emerged from the situation better off than the franchise he surrounded himself with.
“Now Kawhi Leonard is probably going to walk into Toronto happy, pay the fine of $700,000, and his uncle Dennis has been thrown under the bus. All across the board, Kawhi Leonard comes out victorious in the situation.”
Leonard has argued that he acted in good faith and was unaware of any arrangement being investigated by the NBA. The Clippers have disputed the NBA’s conclusion and said they will challenge the penalties.
