The NBA is nearing completion of two investigations into potential tampering related to separate sign-and-trades involving Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
The NBA opened the investigations in early August, intending to determine whether the Bulls’ acquisition of Ball from the Pelicans or the Heat’s trade for Lowry with the Raptors, broke league rules.
Wojnarowski reports “numerous interviews” were conducted with team executives and player agents during the investigation while electronic messages from the four teams involved were also collected.
The Raptors signed Lowry to a three-year, $85-million contract before agreeing to trade him to the Heat for Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa. The Heat guaranteed Dragic’s $19.4 million team option before the trade. The Pelicans signed Ball to a four-year, $80-million contract before trading him to the Bulls for Garrett Temple and Tomas Satoransky. Temple signed a three-year, $15.5-million contract with Chicago before the trade.
The NBA introduced more strict penalties for tampering cases in 2019, according to Wojnarowski. Those penalties could include fines up to $10 million for teams, possible suspension of team executives, draft pick forfeitures and voiding of the contracts. Wojnarowski adds that voiding the contracts is the least likely punishment.
The Bucks were stripped of a 2022 second-round pick after an investigation into tampering involving Sacramento restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic. According to Wojnarowski, the NBA factored in the fact that Bogdanovic ultimately signed with the Hawks when determining penalties for the Bucks.
Report: NBA nears completion of Lowry, Ball tampering investigations
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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