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But a Knicks international scout lives in Barcelona, where Rubio is playing this year, and is friends with Rubio's folks, who supposedly would be so very proud if their son's rights got traded to the Knicks. This is the same scout who was responsible for the Knicks drafting Danilo Gallinari, by the way.

Source: New York Post

Larry Coon wrote: Tampering is when a player or team directly or indirectly entices, induces or persuades anybody (player, general manager, etc.) who is under contract with another team to negotiate for their services.

I've always been a little hazy on what the league considers tampering, and this made me even more foggy.

1. Could Rubio even be tampered with, since MIN only owns his rights, and doesn't have him under a contract?

2. Is a Knicks international scout someone with close enough ties to an organization to even tamper?

3. In general, is tampering one of those "I'll know it when I see it" type of gray area rules?

Yes, Rubio can be tampered with. But you better send him flowers in the morning.