NBA penalizes Los Angeles Clippers following Kawhi Leonard investigation

(CBS, KYMA) - One of the NBA's richest teams has been slapped with the league's harshest penalities.

After a years-long investigation, the NBA found the Los Angeles Clippers and star player Kawhi Leonard allegedly circumvented salary cap rules.

The league's investigation found the Clippers helped Leonard secure lucrative endorsement deals with four companies that did business with the team, effectively giving him financial benefits outside his player contract.

The team has been ordered to pay a $30 million fine and was stripped of five first round draft picks.

Team owner Steve Ballmer is benched, suspended from all league and team activities for a year.

In a statement, the Clippers said they "vehemently reject the NBA's findings.

Leonard will have to pay a $700,000 fine. The seven-time NBA All-Star said he accepts "full responsibility for lapses in judgement" by people in his inner circle.

"I think if you look five years from now, ten years from now, 20 years from now, this is one of those scandals that doesn't go away," said Mike Yam, NBA TV host.

In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he is "deeply disappointed," and said, "The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations."