Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers over allegations it circumvented the NBA’s salary cap involving star player Kawhi Leonard.

The Department of Justice probe is in the beginning stages and being handled by the US Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, the New York Times reported.

The probe comes just days after the NBA dropped a staggering punishment on the Clippers, fining the team $30 million, suspending owner Steve Ballmer and stripping the franchise of five first-round draft picks.