NBA opens investigations into Lonzo Ball, Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade deals, sources say

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31981523/nba-opens-investigations-lonzo-ball-kyle-lowry-sign-trade-deals-sources-say



NBA opens investigations into Lonzo Ball, Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade deals, sources say



11:52 AM PT
Adrian Wojnarowski
Ramona Shelburne



The NBA has opened investigations into possible tampering violations involving two sign-and-trade deals completed in free agency, Chicago's acquisition of New Orleans's Lonzo Ball and Miami's acquisition of Toronto's Kyle Lowry, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

The NBA's probe will examine illegal contact among teams and players ahead of the opening of free agency on Monday at 6 p.m. ET, sources told ESPN. Team executives, players agents and players have been notified of the opening of the league office's investigations, sources said.

The NBA instituted more stringent penalties in these cases in 2019, including raising the maximum fine for teams to $10 million and the possibility of suspending team executives, forfeiting draft picks and even the voiding of contracts. Team executives can also have their communications -- such as telephone records, texts and emails -- randomly audited.


Sign-and-trade arrangements are more complicated and time-consuming than typical free-agent player signings, often needing a greater level of discussion and negotiation to complete.

New Orleans agreed to trade Ball, a restricted free agent, to Chicago on a four-year, $85 million contract for Garrett Temple on a new three-year, $15.5 million contract and guard Tomas Satoransky. That deal has yet to be finalized with the league office and could look different in its final form, sources said.

Miami negotiated a three-year, $85 million deal with Lowry in the sign-and-trade that sent guard Goran Dragic and forward Precious Achiuwa to the Raptors. The Heat guaranteed Dragic's $19.4 million team option on Sunday, which allowed them to use him in the sign-and-trade deal.

The Milwaukee Bucks lost a 2022 second-round pick for tampering charges with Sacramento Kings restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic in 2021. With the penalty, the NBA took into consideration that the Bucks did not ultimately sign Bogdanovic -- the Atlanta Hawks did.


Bob


.

So...if found guilty they may lose draft picks that they do not care about, and money that they have plenty of. Seems like a "worth it" risk to me. Only way they will feel it is if they negate the trades, and I doubt that will happen. Riley knows exactly what he is doing, and Chicago is just giving the league the "go ahead, fine us" we will land on our feet. Take the players away......then see how they like it

RosalieTCeltics wrote:So...if found guilty they may lose draft picks that they do not care about, and money that they have plenty of.  Seems like a "worth it" risk to me.  Only way they will feel it is if they negate the trades, and I doubt that will happen.  Riley knows exactly what he is doing, and Chicago is just giving the league the "go ahead, fine us" we will land on our feet. Take the players away......then see how they like it

Rosalie,

It is better to pay a fine than it is to follow the rules?  If there is no real consequence, just change the rule.  The change needs to be made that as soon as the finals are over and the champagne is flowing, allow free agents to talk with any team they want to.

If the league finds hard evidence, there should be consequences.  Cancel the trades and force the offending teams to comply.  Neither side really wants that, so just change the rule the next time the NBA CBA gets renegotiated.  (Mutual opt-out for 2023?)

I was saying that the "worth it" risk is for the cocky, powerful team that can withstand the penalty and still get the player (s) I do not say this is right, I think you are right that the rules need to be changed, but in the meantime, if this did happen, will the teams be penalized by negating the trade, or 'the worth it" penalty of money or picks.

The league is on their heals here. It will be interesting how the arrogant Riley gets his due

106. Can teams find loopholes in the CBA and do things the league never intended to allow? What is circumvention?

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q106

Here's a tiny bit. Use the link to see entire section. Fun stuff!

In 2019 the league also approved new measures to reduce circumvention and tampering (see question number 111) such as inappropriate communications between teams and the agents of free agents to-be before the opening of free agency on July 1.

Was the July 1 date changed this year because of the lateness of the finals? If so, that's the pivotal date to use when finding out when "conversations" took place, before or after.

It is all about timing.

I think teams should be able to talk with players and agents  and other teams before FA actually begins.  After the final buzzer sounds in the playoffs.  Then they should have the draft and then an official date when signings can begin.