Ballmer to Comply with NBA Penalties, Won't Seek Legal Action The decision by Steve Ballmer not to contest the NBA's penalties for the Los Angeles Clippers' salary cap circumvention is a stark reminder of the league's growing power and influence over its member teams.
The severity of the punishment – including the loss of five future first round draft picks, a $30 million fine, and a year long suspension for Ballmer himself – should send a shiver down the spines of every team owner in the NBA.
Ballmer's change of heart is particularly striking given his previous denials of wrongdoing and vows to fight on through "every avenue available.