Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer announced Sunday that he will accept the penalties handed down by the NBA for his team's involvement in a salary cap circumvention scandal involving Kawhi Leonard.
It's a reversal of course for Ballmer, who initially rejected the NBA's findings and vowed to challenge the penalties.
"This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets," Ballmer said in a statement. "I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.
"We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract."
The NBA issued substantial punishments to Ballmer and the Clippers earlier this month. Ballmer was suspended for one year, while the team was fined $30 million and forced to forfeit five first-round draft picks.
President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended for six months, while president of business operations Gillian Zucker received a one-year ban.
Ballmer's acceptance of the league's punishment could open the door for the team to officially finalize the Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors that's been on hold since late June.
The Clippers and Raptors agreed on a deal that would send Leonard to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and pick swaps. The deal, however, was put on hold by the teams while the NBA investigated whether or not Los Angeles had violated salary cap rules.
While it's believed the Leonard trade will eventually go through, there's no mandate that the deal, or its original framework, has to happen or will remain the same.
Leonard was not suspended following the NBA's investigation, though he was handed a $700,000 fine. His uncle and former manager, Dennis Robertson, is however, prohibited from working with NBA teams for five years.
Leonard said earlier this month that he accepted "full responsibility for lapses in judgement by people within my inner circle," but had "no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap." He added that he's looking forward to "closing this chapter" as he returns to Toronto.
The NBA began investigating last September whether the Clippers and Leonard's endorsement deal with Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC was in violation of league rules.
The 35-year-old Leonard has spent the last six seasons with the Clippers after winning a championship during his only season with the Raptors. He's set to earn $50.3 million in his final year under contract, though it's believed that Leonard intends to sign an extension in Toronto.
