The NBA on Wednesday announced severe punishments for the LA Clippers, including the loss of five future first-round draft picks, a fine of $30 million, and a yearlong suspension of owner Steve Ballmer, for violating salary cap circumvention rules in a case involving star Kawhi Leonard.

In a statement, the NBA said a near-yearlong investigation "found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules." As a result, the Clippers must forfeit first-round draft picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033.

President of business operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for one year, and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for six months. Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, wasn't suspended but must pay the league $700,000.

Commissioner Adam Silver said, "I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers' institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct." The Clippers contested the findings and said they will challenge them "through every avenue available to us."