The NBA handed down the most severe front-office punishment in league history on Sept. 2, stripping the Los Angeles Clippers of five first-round draft picks and fining the team $30 million for salary-cap circumvention tied to Kawhi Leonard. An independent investigation led by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz found the Clippers organization facilitated off-court endorsement deals between Leonard and four companies with business ties to the team: Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance.
Analysis
Original NBA analysis explaining strategy, contracts, roster construction, player performance and the consequences behind major league developments.
Miami Heat Roster and Contender Outlook After the Klay Thompson Signing
Thompson signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with Miami in late August after clearing waivers on a Dallas buyout, with a player option and a 15 percent trade kicker attached to the second season. That signing came about seven weeks after Miami acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee on July 6, sending Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis and multiple draft picks back to the Bucks.
ESPN Projects Spurs to Finish 62-20 Again, Tied for Best Record in the West
ESPN’s latest projections for the 2026-27 season have the San Antonio Spurs finishing 62-20, tied for the best projected record in the league and first in the Western Conference. That mirrors the Spurs’ actual record from last season, when they won 62 games and reached the 2026 NBA Finals before losing to the New York Knicks in five games. ESPN’s forecast has Oklahoma City close behind at a projected 60-22, with the network describing the West as running through either the Thunder or the Spurs.