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NBA commissioner Adam Silver says the league is ready to move on from its investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard.<\/p>\n
The Clippers were hit with one of the biggest punishments in NBA history, with owner Steve Ballmer suspended for one year, the organization fined $30 million and five first-round draft picks stripped away. Leonard was also fined $700,000 but avoided suspension, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n
Silver addressed the situation publicly Tuesday, making it clear why the league believed significant punishment was necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone in the room understands that part of the core responsibility of the league is to have a set of rules that everyone agrees to operate under, and the league\u2019s responsibility to enforce those rules,\u201d Silver said<\/a> at his news conference Tuesday. \u201cAnd that if those rules are found to be violated, there then will be appropriate consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n Ballmer initially disputed the NBA\u2019s findings before changing course and accepting the penalties.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine and are moving forward,\u201d Ballmer said in a statement, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n Silver also spoke with Leonard following the investigation. While he declined to reveal details of their conversation, the commissioner said both sides agreed to move forward.<\/p>\n Leonard has since officially returned to the Toronto Raptors after his trade from Los Angeles was delayed for months while the investigation played out.<\/p>\n Despite the unprecedented hit to the Clippers\u2019 future draft capital, Silver doesn\u2019t believe the punishment will cause lasting damage to the franchise.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause while there have to be competitive consequences, our view, if these rules are violated, we still want to be a 30-team league,\u201d Silver said. \u201cAnd we recognize that in some ways, we\u2019re unfortunately punishing the fans of that team as well, and so that\u2019s the balance we\u2019re trying to seek.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think in any way we\u2019ve done permanent damage to this franchise, but there\u2019s no question this is a setback for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Danilo Gallinari Calls Out Kawhi Leonard Over $700K Punishment<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n