Kenny Smith believes the NBA's punishment of the Los Angeles Clippers is appropriate, despite its severity.
The TNT analyst told TMZ Sports at LAX on Friday that the team's actions warranted strong consequences.
"You're vehemently cheating," Smith said. "You're not just toeing the line.
You're actually cheating and you're cheating at a high level."
He emphasized that circumventing the salary cap gives an unfair advantage, and without severe penalties, others might follow suit.
The NBA stripped the Clippers of multiple first-round draft picks and fined them $30 million.
Owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for the entire season, along with several other executives.
Smith noted the punishment could cripple the franchise for five to seven years, as draft picks are vital for team development.
Kawhi Leonard, the star at the center of the controversy, received a $700,000 fine but no suspension.
Smith hinted at a theory for why Leonard escaped a harsher penalty, but the details remain unclear.
