Lakers Fined $500,000 For Violating Anti-Tampering Rule

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Los Angeles Lakers have been fined $500,000 by the NBA for violating the league's anti-tampering rule on Paul George.

Via RealGM Staff Report

[AingesBurner]

Thats it, why doesn't the league hit them where it hurts and forbid them from signing PG.

[cthunshammer]

Hopefully the Jazz pursue a similar scenario with Boston and Haywood

[Clippers4Life]

Thats it, why doesn't the league hit them where it hurts and forbid them from signing PG.

THATS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT!! NO PG TO LAKERS!

[Jeff Van Gully]

i bet the lakers see this fine as money well spent. reward far outweighs risk in cases like these.

[bqmuzik]

I'm no expert but as as someone who studies human behavior, there is not doubt in my mind that there was tampering here.

As far as the guy talking about Boston and Utah. Hayward gave a pretty in-depth interview with Woj and I wasn't under any impression that he didn't handle the free agency situation the right way.

[Daddy 801]

I'm no expert but as as someone who studies human behavior, there is not doubt in my mind that there was tampering here.

As far as the guy talking about Boston and Utah. Hayward gave a pretty in-depth interview with Woj and I wasn't under any impression that he didn't handle the free agency situation the right way.

If you believe Hayward handled it the right way, or that he wasn't involved in tampering then I don't think you paid enough attention to the situation. That is understandable as most people don't pay attention to the Jazz. The issue doesn't bug me a whole lot and I don't see the Jazz pursuing the issue. But no way it went down as Hayward/Agent have stated. And the Jazz GM is at fault for not trading him last season when Hill did not sign his extension. Time to move on though.

[Patsfan1081]

Hopefully the Jazz pursue a similar scenario with Boston and Haywood

Why? Did Ainge go on a late night talk show and make stupid winking faces? Is there evidence of Haywards agent calling Boston reps befor trade season? Being sour that a player leaves doesn't equate to tampering.....

[Patsfan1081]

I'm no expert but as as someone who studies human behavior, there is not doubt in my mind that there was tampering here.

As far as the guy talking about Boston and Utah. Hayward gave a pretty in-depth interview with Woj and I wasn't under any impression that he didn't handle the free agency situation the right way.

If you believe Hayward handled it the right way, or that he wasn't involved in tampering then I don't think you paid enough attention to the situation. That is understandable as most people don't pay attention to the Jazz. The issue doesn't bug me a whole lot and I don't see the Jazz pursuing the issue. But no way it went down as Hayward/Agent have stated. And the Jazz GM is at fault for not trading him last season when Hill did not sign his extension. Time to move on though.

So what evidence is there that Boston tampered?

[Patsfan1081]

i bet the lakers see this fine as money well spent. reward far outweighs risk in cases like these.

Not really, doesn't really help your reputation and now there will be more eyes on you in the future. What they did was still shady.

[Donnyxc]

Hopefully the Jazz pursue a similar scenario with Boston and Haywood

Bruh, Brendan Haywood is retired

[HangTime]

How is this only a $500,000 fine?

This is worse than Joe Smith signing with the Wolves,(which shouldn't have been illegal), and they lost 3 first rounders for it.

[zero24gravity]

Hopefully the Jazz pursue a similar scenario with Boston and Haywood

Bruh, Brendan Haywood is retired

All self-respecting Jazz fans now refer to him as Haywood.

And yes, there had previously been a list of circumstantial evidence that Boston tampered with Haywood. But recently there is a report stating that the Celtics didn't trade for Butler due to questions about his ability to mesh with Haywood. Here's the problem with that...

Butler was traded to MN long before Haywood signed with the C's, and even before Boston was allowed to talk to Haywood. So how did they base their decision to not trade for Butler due to concerns with meshing with Haywood, unless they already knew he was coming? Hmmmmm, tamper much?

If the Lakers got a fine, then the Celtics' fine should be double that, plus reconciliation to the Jazz via draft pick(s).

Truth is, if the league really cared that much about tampering, they would also ban the Lakers from signing George for the foreseeable future & force the Celtics to lose Haywood. The only time the league has ever shown all balls in this regard was when they smacked the TWolves over Joe Smith's illegal contract back in 1999. ..."The Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million, and forfeited their first-round draft picks for the next five years (the team’s 2003 pick was eventually restored). Not only was Smith’s newly-signed contract voided, his previous two were as well, meaning he would no longer retain his Bird rights with the Timberwolves. Additionally, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was suspended through August 31, 2001, and VP of basketball operations Kevin McHale took a leave of absence through July 31."

With the TWolves, they didn't sign away another team's All Star player via their tampering (or try to recruit George in the Lakers situation). Shouldn't the punishment be even greater for the Lakers and Celtics?

[rammagen]

But I was told I was wrong by someone who I put on ignore because he would not let it go. I think the Jazz have a case and should go after the celtics.

[Donnyxc]

Hopefully the Jazz pursue a similar scenario with Boston and Haywood

Bruh, Brendan Haywood is retired

All self-respecting Jazz fans now refer to him as Haywood.

And yes, there had previously been a list of circumstantial evidence that Boston tampered with Haywood. But recently there is a report stating that the Celtics didn't trade for Butler due to questions about his ability to mesh with Haywood. Here's the problem with that...

Butler was traded to MN long before Haywood signed with the C's, and even before Boston was allowed to talk to Haywood. So how did they base their decision to not trade for Butler due to concerns with meshing with Haywood, unless they already knew he was coming? Hmmmmm, tamper much?

Yeah, because I believe everything I read on the internet too...

Zach Lowe wrote an ESPN article with this quote "The Celtics had some concerns over how Hayward and Butler would mesh, both on the court and as personalities, sources say."
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20501557/zach-lowe-celtics-cavaliers-kyrie-irving-isaiah-thomas-trade-nba

No indication of timing. No indication of source. When a Report lists "a source", it's journalist code for writing your own opinion and making it sound better by added "sources say". Even if a real person said this, we have no idea if it was before Jimmy's trade, after Jimmy's trade, during Jimm'y trade. Now all articles on the internet are taking that quote and rolling with it as it came from Danny Ainge himself. Bleacher Report, Inquisitor.

Eventually you have to accept the circumstance, instead of pushing to fine another team. Trying to get the league to fine a team based on losing your star player is not "self-respecting" as you say.

I would instead, focus on factual evidence. If you read Gordon Hayward's Tribute article, he wrote that part of the reason he appreciates Brad Stevens is the fact that Brad completely respects his time and space. When Gordon was deciding whether to return to Butler for another season, after losing the NCAA Championship game, "in the end, when I needed it, he also gave me my space. And he also let me know that it was my choice to make — and that he would be there for me, on the other side of it, either way. "
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/gordon-hayward-decision-free-agency-nba/

He left because he wants to play for Brad. "that unfinished business we had together, back in 2010, when I left Butler for the NBA … as far as I’m concerned, all of these years later, we still have it"
That is not a surprise. Each team had the opportunity to make a push for him, equally. Utah had the last meeting, and you guys have a great squad. Almost great enough to keep him. This is the unfortunate beauty of Free Agency. There is no dire tampering scheme that has been in place to bring Gordon to Boston. He chose to play there.

Truth is, if the league really cared that much about tampering, they would also ban the Lakers from signing George for the foreseeable future & force the Celtics to lose Haywood. The only time the league has ever shown all balls in this regard was when they smacked the TWolves over Joe Smith's illegal contract back in 1999. ..."The Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million, and forfeited their first-round draft picks for the next five years (the team’s 2003 pick was eventually restored). Not only was Smith’s newly-signed contract voided, his previous two were as well, meaning he would no longer retain his Bird rights with the Timberwolves. Additionally, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was suspended through August 31, 2001, and VP of basketball operations Kevin McHale took a leave of absence through July 31."

With the TWolves, they didn't sign away another team's All Star player via their tampering (or try to recruit George in the Lakers situation). Shouldn't the punishment be even greater for the Lakers and Celtics?

No. Read my above post. There is no proven scheme based on one reporter writing one line in an article.
Just because in your opinion there is one, does not make it fact.

We call that wishful thinking.

[zero24gravity]

No indication of timing. No indication of source. When a Report lists "a source", it's journalist code for writing your own opinion and making it sound better by added "sources say". Even if a real person said this, we have no idea if it was before Jimmy's trade, after Jimmy's trade, during Jimm'y trade. Now all articles on the internet are taking that quote and rolling with it as it came from Danny Ainge himself. Bleacher Report, Inquisitor.

Eventually you have to accept the circumstance, instead of pushing to fine another team. Trying to get the league to fine a team based on losing your star player is not "self-respecting" as you say.

Riiiight, because they were considering how Butler would fit with Hayward AFTER Butler got traded to the Timberwolves. (Since Haywood wasn't on the team to "mesh with" until after Butler was off the market.) They decided not to trade for Butler, a top NBA player, on the "hope" they would get Haywood because they might not mesh. Come on, that's complete nonsense.

[Donnyxc]

No indication of timing. No indication of source. When a Report lists "a source", it's journalist code for writing your own opinion and making it sound better by added "sources say". Even if a real person said this, we have no idea if it was before Jimmy's trade, after Jimmy's trade, during Jimm'y trade. Now all articles on the internet are taking that quote and rolling with it as it came from Danny Ainge himself. Bleacher Report, Inquisitor.

Eventually you have to accept the circumstance, instead of pushing to fine another team. Trying to get the league to fine a team based on losing your star player is not "self-respecting" as you say.

Riiiight, because they were considering how Butler would fit with Hayward AFTER Butler got traded to the Timberwolves. (Since Haywood wasn't on the team to "mesh with" until after Butler was off the market.) They decided not to trade for Butler, a top NBA player, on the "hope" they would get Haywood because they might not mesh. Come on, that's complete nonsense.

Your response doesn't change the fact that your entire opinion on trying to call for a double fine on the Celtics is based on one line written by a reporter. With no actual fact. No listed source.

Please note that in my last post I wrote "Even if a real person said this". That is a huge IF . to begin with. You entire argument is based on wishful thinking, which coming from a Utah fan, I understand. It's just talking yourself into some sort of justice for losing your best player, Fairly, in Free Agency.

[ChokeFasncists]

One up for the 90s Lakers Celtics rivalry. Magic tampers only gets fined. McFail tampered lost picks.

[zero24gravity]

Your response doesn't change the fact that your entire opinion on trying to call for a double fine on the Celtics is based on one line written by a reporter. With no actual fact. No listed source.

Please note that in my last post I wrote "Even if a real person said this". That is a huge IF . to begin with. You entire argument is based on wishful thinking, which coming from a Utah fan, I understand. It's just talking yourself into some sort of justice for losing your best player, Fairly, in Free Agency.

Ok, well that makes it acceptable then. Doesn't matter if it's true or not, even though all signs point in that direction. Unless they are caught with a giant blinking sign in their hands saying "we tampered", then all is fair. Justifying their actions, coming from a Celtics fan, I understand though ... I guess. It was only "fair" if it was done legally, which is highly questionable (not proven though, I got it).

Reminds me very much of the political climate in our country right now.... It's ok if you're not caught 100% red handed doing something "wrong", even if it's obvious to anyone who is paying attention that motives and intentions are ugly.

[Donnyxc]

Your response doesn't change the fact that your entire opinion on trying to call for a double fine on the Celtics is based on one line written by a reporter. With no actual fact. No listed source.

Please note that in my last post I wrote "Even if a real person said this". That is a huge IF . to begin with. You entire argument is based on wishful thinking, which coming from a Utah fan, I understand. It's just talking yourself into some sort of justice for losing your best player, Fairly, in Free Agency.

Ok, well that makes it acceptable then. Doesn't matter if it's true or not, even though all signs point in that direction. Unless they are caught with a giant blinking sign in their hands saying "we tampered", then all is fair. Justifying their actions, coming from a Celtics fan, I understand though ... I guess. It was only "fair" if it was done legally, which is highly questionable (not proven though, I got it).

Reminds me very much of the political climate in our country right now.... It's ok if you're not caught 100% red handed doing something "wrong", even if it's obvious to anyone who is paying attention that motives and intentions are ugly.

"all signs point in that direction" HA, you mean like that same sign your entire point is based off of? The same sign written by one journalist and then re-purposed for other journalists to write off of?

Also Trump Jr and his lawyers met with the Russians. The details of that discussion are now being reviewed by Mueller and Panel to determine if Collusion occurred. That meeting was a fact, unlike the meetings or discussions you are trying to say exist with the Celtics because you wish for that to be the case.

You are talking yourself into this because you are trying to justify your Star playing leaving your team in free agency, fairly. Again, that is understandable. As long as you are admitting you are basing it off of one line from a reporter without any factual evidence.