NBA is investigating Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls for tampering over $85million sign-and-trade deals for Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball
The NBA is investigating possible tampering violations involving the Chicago Bulls' acquisition of Lonzo Ball and the Miami Heat's addition of All-Star guard Kyle Lowry.
Both sign-and-trade deals had been rumored for weeks ahead of their completion, but by league rules, teams aren't allowed to negotiate with players under contract with other teams until free agency begins. Furthermore, teams are also prohibited from recruiting prospective free agents through the media.
On Saturday ESPN reported the league's probe will examine alleged illegal contact between the teams and players prior to the official opening of free agency this past Monday at 6pm ET.
The NBA is investigating possible tampering violations involving the Chicago Bulls' acquisition of Lonzo Ball and the Miami Heat's addition of All-Star guard Kyle Lowry . Ball signed a four-year, $85 million contract in a sign-and-trade agreement. Garrett Temple and Tomas Satoransky are going to the Pelicans in the deal. The Heat and Toronto Raptors completed a sign-and-trade deal that sent Lowry to Miami in exchange for forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Goran Dragic. As part of the sign-and-trade deal, Lowry inked a three-year, $85 million contract
Although league rules have prohibited the practice for decades, the NBA commissioner's office has rededicated itself to cracking down on tampering since 2019 after then-Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson was warned about discussing other teams' players with the media. With the league seeking a 'culture of compliance,' NBA commissioner Adam Silver (pictured here at the league draft on July 29) said in 2019 the new rule changes could involve, 'Suspending executives ... taking away draft picks ... voiding contracts. ... All those provisions are on the table. The ultimate goal is compliance'
The Bulls acquired Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans for forward Garrett Temple and guard Tomas Satoransky. Ball, a restricted free agent, signed a four-year, $85 million contract in a sign-and-trade agreement, per numerous outlets. The deal was finalized Sunday night.
Although league rules have prohibited the practice for decades, the NBA commissioner's office has rededicated itself to cracking down on tampering since 2019 after then-Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson was warned about discussing other teams' players with the media.
With the league seeking a 'culture of compliance,' NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in 2019 the new rule changes could involve, 'Suspending executives ... taking away draft picks ... voiding contracts. ... All those provisions are on the table. The ultimate goal is compliance.'
Speaking in 2019, Silver added, 'Our teams want to know that they're competing on a level playing field and frankly don't want to feel disadvantaged if they are adhering to our existing rules.'
If a player/agent solicits unauthorized benefits or contact regarding contract matters, a team must be notified within 24 hours, under the new rule changes. Also, five teams each year will be randomly audited to make sure no rules have been broken.
Fines for tampering with team or player personnel would increase from $5 million to $10 million, and increase to $6 million for a team and $250,000 for a player for unauthorized agreements.
It's not yet clear if Heat president Pat Riley or Bulls general manager Marc Eversley will face any punishment, personally.
It's not yet clear if Heat president Pat Riley or Bulls general manager Marc Eversley will face any punishment, personally
Ball averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 55 games (all starts) and shot 37.8 percent from 3-point range with New Orleans last season. In his career, the 23-year-old has posted 11.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 217 games (204 starts) over his four seasons.
Ball was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft with the Los Angeles Lakers, who traded him to the Pelicans in the Anthony Davis deal in 2019.
The Heat and Toronto Raptors completed a sign-and-trade deal on Friday that sent Lowry to Miami in exchange for forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Goran Dragic.
Lowry, who has a new, three-year, $85 million contract, put up averages last season of 17.2 points, 7.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 34.8 minutes. He shot 43.6 percent from the field (39.6 percent from 3-point range) and 87.5 percent at the free-throw line.
Lowry has played 15 NBA seasons -- with Memphis, Houston and Toronto -- and has averaged 14.9 points, 6.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 31.8 minutes over 960 career games (724 starts).
The Heat and Toronto Raptors completed a sign-and-trade deal on Friday that sent Lowry to Miami in exchange for forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Goran Dragic