The LA Clippers opened media day Monday by apologizing to fans following an NBA salary cap circumvention investigation that resulted in significant penalties for the organization. Owner Steve Ballmer, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and president of business operations Gillian Zucker are all serving league-mandated suspensions.

Interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden addressed the fallout directly.

"Our fans deserve to hear from us before this, and for that we're sorry," said Redden. "We've been listening to the thoughts, the concerns, and feeling the emotions of our fan base. They mean everything to us. Their pain through this time is real, and we feel it and we hear them, as well as our staff members who are proud to be part of this organization. We hope to fulfill our promises to them to build their trust and move forward."

The Clippers announced last week that Los Angeles-area lawyer John S. Gibson will serve as interim governor during Ballmer's year-long suspension.

Redden, who joined the organization in 2017, has stepped in for Frank during his six-month suspension. He will work alongside head coach Ty Lue, interim general manager Mark Hughes and executive Lee Jenkins.

"Our processes of how we go through talking to teams and drumming up ideas and figuring out what might work for us, both short and long term, stays the same," said Redden. "Ty's input on the player level and his system is always part of it. I don't see that changing because of the [suspensions]. We'll just talk to [Gibson] for final approval [of trades] instead of talking to [Ballmer]."

The NBA's investigation determined that the Clippers violated league rules by arranging endorsement opportunities for Kawhi Leonard, who was traded to the Toronto Raptors earlier this month. The league fined the organization $30 million and stripped five first-round picks in addition to the suspensions. The Clippers initially rejected the findings in August before Ballmer said the team would accept the punishments in a Sept. 13 statement.

"The penalties we are facing are significant, and we will comply with them," said Redden.

Lue, who Ballmer hired as head coach in 2020, reaffirmed his commitment to the organization.

"I definitely want to go through this challenge," said Lue. "We've been through challenges before. Is it any different?"

The Clippers are entering a rebuilding season after trading Leonard for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft assets. Redden confirmed Ingram will miss the start of the season while recovering from May surgery addressing a right heel injury and a partially torn Achilles tendon.

"This franchise often has done its best work with its back against the wall," said Redden. "We hope to represent our fans the same way we always had in dark times by coming out fighting."