I have two theories on why Robert Sarver got fined and suspended for one year:
1) He owns the Phoenix Suns, which is not as much of an existential threat to the NBA as Donald Sterling, Los Angeles Clippers owner, being a racist asshole, or
2) The rumors about expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle are true, so if you iced Sarver you probably don't have a Steve Balmer waiting in the wings to buy the Suns