'For That We're Sorry': The Clippers Open Media Day With an Apology

The Clippers started their season by apologizing. "Our fans deserve to hear from us before this, and for that we're sorry," interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden said as media day opened Monday. "Their pain through this time is real, and we feel it and we hear them."

Redden was the one speaking because his bosses can't. The NBA found the Clippers broke salary cap rules by arranging endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard. Owner Steve Ballmer is suspended for a year, basketball chief Lawrence Frank for six months, and business president Gillian Zucker is also suspended. The team was fined $30 million and has to give up five first-round picks.

The Clippers first rejected the league's findings in August before Ballmer accepted the penalties on Sept. 13. "The penalties we are facing are significant, and we will comply with them," Redden said.

Who's in charge now

Los Angeles lawyer John S. Gibson is the interim governor while Ballmer is out, and he will approve trades. Redden, with the team since 2017, runs basketball operations with interim GM Mark Hughes and executive Lee Jenkins. Coach Ty Lue called himself "loyal to the end" to Ballmer, who hired him in 2020, and said team morale is "great, even in these tough situations."

It's going to be a hard season to sell. Leonard is gone to Toronto, and Brandon Ingram, the main player who came back, will miss the start of the season after Achilles surgery.

"This franchise often has done its best work with its back against the wall," Redden said. The Clippers' back is certainly there now.