It didn’t take Kawhi Leonard long to respond to the NBA’s ruling that Los Angeles Clippers violated the league’s salary cap circumvention rules by initiating off-court sponsorship deals for him.
“Integrity and respect for this game are fundamental to who I am. I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard’s Instagram story post wrote minutes after news of the NBA’s investigation was made public.
Leonard will have to pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits by the Clippers, but won’t have his contract voided or suspended.
“I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard’s post added.
“For 15 years, my priority has been giving everything to my family, the game, and those I share the court with. As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” it continued.
There’s a strong case to be made that Leonard was let off relatively easy. And as he alluded to, this investigation concluding means that he’s free to join the Toronto Raptors, which has been the worst-kept secret in the league.
It will be interesting to see what the reaction to Leonard’s punishment is.
