Silver Defends Clippers Penalty, Eyes Vegas-Seattle Expansion — SkimNews
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- NBA hit the LA Clippers with massive penalties — five first-round draft picks forfeited, owner Steve Ballmer suspended one year, $30 million fine — for circumventing salary cap rules on Kawhi Leonard's behalf
- Silver said he relied on the Timberwolves' precedent (also five picks) but argued the penalty had to go "directly to competition," beyond suspensions and fines
- Silver said he has "no inkling" any other teams are currently circumventing salary cap rules, framing the punishment as a deterrent
- On expansion to 32 teams, Silver said the Las Vegas timeline is longer than Seattle's due to unknowns around arena or entertainment-venue options; Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena could be NBA-ready in five weeks
- Silver called keeping the Trail Blazers in Portland a priority, saying leaving would be a "failure"; new owner Tom Dundon pledged a 20-year lease contingent on $365 million in state funding, $120 million from the city, and Multnomah County funds for Moda Center renovations
- The Leonard trade back to Toronto was completed Monday
- On the WNBA commissioner search, Silver said the NBA is interviewing search firms after Cathy Engelbert's planned year-end retirement and stressed basketball and player issues should remain "under the direct control of the WNBA commissioner"
Why it matters: The Clippers' five forfeited first-round picks could kneecap their title window for years, even as Silver cited the Timberwolves' similar punishment as precedent. Portland's roughly $485 million arena-funding fight tests whether Dundon's 20-year lease pledge survives contentious state-city negotiations, and Silver's commitment to keep WNBA basketball decisions independent of the NBA shapes the league's next commissioner's authority.
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