NEWSLETTER
COME. ON.
Six days after the start of NBA free agency, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported multiple teams are being investigated for tampering violations, including the Chicago Bulls.
Two years ago, NBA elevated maximum tampering fine to $10M for teams and opened door for suspension of executives, forfeiture of draft picks and voiding of contracts. Team execs can also have their communications – such as phone records, texts and emails – randomly audited.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 7, 2021
The very first deal announced on Monday night was the Bulls sign-and-trade acquisition for Lonzo Ball. An intricate deal, the Chicago Bulls sent out Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple, and a second-round pick in exchange for Ball on a four-year $85 million contract.
The Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors are also reportedly under investigation for their quick trigger on the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade. We first learned that Miami was the heavy favorite for Lowry the night before free agency thanks to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
In 2019, the NBA decided to crack down even harder on tampering violations. The largest fine a team can now receive is $10 million. Draft picks can also be taken away, executives can be suspended, and deals can be voided altogether.
The chance of the NBA refusing Ball’s move to Chicago feels very unlikely, but anything else feels in the realm of possibility. The organization could receive a hefty fine, and the Bulls might see themselves stripped of yet another draft pick.
Milwaukee found themselves in this situation the last offseason after a failed sign-and-trade agreement with Bogdan Bogdanovic. The violation ended up costing the Bucks a 2022 second-round pick. To be clear, the NBA did not void the transaction, but Bogdanovic rather backed out himself to pursue restricted free agency (where ultimately signed a four-year $72 million deal with Atlanta).
