What happened: La Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is complying with the NBA's sanctions against the franchise for salary cap circumvention and will not pursue legal action. In a statement, Ballmer acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for the organization.

Why it matters: The decision ends the prospect of a protracted legal battle after the Clippers signaled a legal fight earlier this month. The NBA previously stripped the franchise of five first-round draft picks as part of the ruling. Accepting the punishment may keep the door open for the league to eventually return some of the forfeited picks for good behavior.

What to watch: The franchise must now navigate the ongoing fallout of the sanctions, including the stalled Kawhi Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors. The organization still requires league approval of a temporary governor to process the transaction.