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As Clippers owner Steve Ballmer serves a one-year suspension for salary cap circumvention, Suns owner Mat Ishbia told Front Office Sports he likes Ballmer as an owner, even while praising the NBA’s handling of its investigation into the Clippers. “I think Steve probably regrets what he did,” Ishbia told FOS editor-in-chief Dan Roberts on an upcoming episode of Portfolio Players. “I’m sure Steve realized he made a mistake. It doesn’t make me not like Steve. I think Steve Ballmer’s a great owner. He’s going to do great things. He’s a great part of the NBA. I know he’s on a year suspension. He’ll be back and hopefully have an impact in a positive way.”
“I think Adam Silver did a fantastic job managing it, leading, and punishing someone, and setting the tone that, ‘Listen, we have rules for a reason. We’re going to follow the rules, and if you’re not going to follow the rules, there are going to be severe consequences to make sure that no one thinks about doing that again,’” Ishbia said.
Justin Russo: Tyronn Lue, with a laugh when asked if Steve Ballmer text him before the game tonight: “He can’t. You trying to get me in trouble.” Ballmer is suspended by the NBA from all contact with the Clippers for 12 months.
Although O’Melveny is still listed on the docket for that case, last month there were two filings that show Ballmer has a new law firm advising him: Simpson Thacher. Three sources familiar with the matter tell FOS that Ballmer is no longer actively working with Kelley or O’Melveny. Two sources say Ballmer had hired Kelley specifically to work on the NBA-related matters he was dealing with, and that the change was made because there was no arbitration process for Ballmer to pursue in the Leonard situation. While the suspended Clippers owner had initially indicated he planned to fight the league’s findings and punishments, he has since reversed course. One source says Simpson Thacher partner Rafi Prober has and will continue to serve as Ballmer’s primary attorney for “general” legal matters, and that Prober has brought in Bill Burck, a partner at Quinn Emmanuel, to assist him. Simpson is among the law firms that have been building up their sports practices, including bringing in three heavy hitters earlier this year: Michael Kuh, Eric Geffner from Sidley Austin, and Matthew Carpenter-Dennis.
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"Our processes of how we go through talking to teams and drumming up ideas and figuring out what might work for us, both short and long term, stays the same," Redden said. "Ty's input on the player level and his system is always part of it. I don't see that changing because of the [suspensions]. We'll just talk to [Gibson] for final approval [of trades] instead of talking to [Ballmer]."
The LA Clippers named general manager Trent Redden as the team's interim president of basketball operations while Lawrence Frank serves his six-month suspension stemming from the NBA's investigation into salary cap circumvention. The announcement was made via a video message from interim team governor and CEO John Gibson to fans. Gibson, who is serving as interim governor while Steve Ballmer serves his one-year suspension, also announced that assistant general manager Mark Hughes will take over GM duties in the meantime.
Ryan Smith: "On a personal level, Steve (Ballmer) has been so awesome to me over the years. One of the first phone calls I had when I came in, knew him from tech, and you know, he's a stand-up individual first and foremost. This game's tricky, this game's hard, and obviously we have rules and the NBA's got to do it. And you know, I'm glad he accepted it and we all can just turn the page and move on. But it's not the first time this has happened in the league. But I think that we've got these rules have to mean anything. As owners, we're held to a pretty high standard comparatively."
Shams Charania: The Clippers have named accomplished Los Angeles-based lawyer John Gibson as the franchise’s interim Governor and CEO, per source. Steve Ballmer nominated Gibson and the NBA approved him.
Law Murray: The LA Clippers have named John Gibson as interim CEO He will also be the interim governor while Steve Ballmer is suspended Statement from Gibson is attached
The LA Clippers have named John Gibson as interim CEO He will also be the interim governor while Steve Ballmer is suspended Statement from Gibson is attached
— Law Murray 📘 (@lawmurraythenu.bsky.social) 2026-09-21T16:34:36.909Z
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Daniel Roberts: Jazz owner Ryan Smith to @FOS on the Ballmer/Clippers punishments: "Steve is a standup individual first and foremost. This game is tricky, this game is hard, and obviously we have rules, and the NBA's gotta do it, and I'm glad he accepted it, and we all can just turn the page and move on. But it's not the first time this has happened in the league, but these rules have to mean anything. As owners, we're held to a pretty high standard comparatively... I think the NBA is way better with him." My full extensive convo with Ryan for our Portfolio Players series comes out Tuesday.
During an interview with CNBC on Thursday, Curry addressed the league's investigation and subsequent penalties against the Clippers, saying NBA commissioner Adam Silver's decision made sense after the lengthy process. “I wasn’t surprised,” Curry said. “I think the reason the investigation took as long as it did and the idea that Steve Ballmer, who I’ve gotten to know and I know he’s a great guy, is standing by the punishment – there’s a reason that it’s happened all the way it has. And at the end of the day, Adam Silver had a job to do, and I think the punishment makes sense, and we all move forward.”
Pablo Torre Finds Out: NEW: The DOJ could build a criminal conspiracy case against Steve Ballmer and the Clippers for securities fraud in the Kawhi Leonard scandal, former federal prosecutors tell @PabloTorre. "Even in 2026, a creative theory could map out a road to jail time." And that's before Trump gets involved.
Brett Siegel: The Clippers' punishment from the NBA is final, Adam Silver says. Silver met with Kawhi Leonard, as well as the NBPA, to determine what exactly would take place as far as punishment for him. "I think we reached a fair outcome for everyone."