NBA free agency deals are now under investigation after several teams have raised an issue of deal tampering in the annual boards meeting. The biggest names in the whole issues are Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant who changed their teams in the free agency trade deals.
There have been complaints made against the players and their respective teams for negotiating outside the trade period and offering undisclosed perks.
The whole controversy started because the players were quick to make a new deal just after the start of free agency on June 30. Kevin and Kyrie went to Nets, Kemba Walker joined the Celtics, Jimmy Butler went to Miami Heat withing minutes of free agency opening. Here are the accusations made and how it could change the future of the NBA.
Deals were made before Free Agency Started
Kawhi Leonard deal with the LA Clippers sounds very suspicious as he waited till the end of free agency and joined them after Paul George did the same. It is being reported that Leonard forced the Clippers to get George, otherwise he would not sign with them. As per the NBA free agency rules, no player or team can coerce others for a deal.
The NBA is opening an investigation into the free-agency process after several teams raised concerns about tampering at the league’s annual board of governors meeting earlier this month, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst. pic.twitter.com/2JMSNRwMNo
— Neverbenched (@NeverBenched_) July 24, 2019
NBA is reviewing early free agency deals and investigating the timing on some of the earliest reported deals, per @ZachLowe_NBA, @WindhorstESPN pic.twitter.com/hJORO4a1Uc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 23, 2019
This NBA investigation can be as big or little as it wants to be. We’ve talked about this quite a bit in the last few months on the show.
IF the NBA wants, they will expose massive perks given outside the CBA that would shake the league pretty bad. It’s an open secret. https://t.co/Z7R2UDC5Cj
— Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 24, 2019
Unpopular opinion:
NBA Players really shouldn’t be able to demand trades. Free agency is a thing for a reason and it shouldn’t be difficult to wait until your contract is up before leaving a team
— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) July 25, 2019
Clippers’ Lawrence Frank on Kawhi Leonard pursuit & NBA’s tampering investigation: “We didn’t recruit. … We know the rules, we follow the rules.” pic.twitter.com/iof3JajkCI
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 24, 2019
It means that the Oklahoma City Thunder, LA Clippers and the Toronto Raptors were involved in the illegal deals. Most of the free agency deals happened as if they were preplanned and it raises a huge suspicion. If the negotiations were carried out before the free agency, then there is no point of the whole event.
Penalty can be Fined on the Teams
Back in 2017, the Lakers team were fined $500,000 because they contacted Paul George even though he was under contract. LeBron James made a public statement that he is interested in playing with Anthony Davis in last December.
The Lakers miraculously then acquired Davis in a deal which cost them 3 players and the No. 1 overall draft pick. NBA authorities are more strict on the teams and the players are rarely fined. Investigations are going on and if found guilty, the teams and players will be fined a penalty.
