NBA Considering New Anti-Tampering Measure

[RealGM Wiretap]

Adam Silver is proposing a new anti-tampering proposal at this week's Board of Governors meeting.

In an effort to enforce existing rules regarding tampering, the league could vote on whether to approve an annual, random auditing of five teams' communications with rival front offices and player agents. 

The owners have wanted the NBA to help level the playing field.

The NBA must receive 23 "yes" votes to approve the new measure.

Teams and league officials will address questions about privacy and the specifics of enforcement.

Silver already has authority to investigate allegations of tampering, including reviewing text messages and other forms of communications.

"I don't think he should have any right to get into my phone," one GM told ESPN. "I wish my owner would vote no, but I doubt he will. You'll only make yourself a target for investigation if you do."

Some executives and agents are planning to wean themselves off electronic communication.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski, Zach Lowe/ESPN

[Metallikid]

It is increasingly becoming clear in society that certain positions of high status intrinsically come with the loss of some freedoms and some privacy.

[the13thjoker]

If they're using business phones what's the problem? Good luck doing business without electronic communication though.

[geezr714]

Nice. GM's are gonna start using pigeons to relay a message now.

[ishoy123]

If they're using business phones what's the problem? Good luck doing business without electronic communication though.

What about, you know, just talking. Like in person.

[JonFromVA]

If they're using business phones what's the problem? Good luck doing business without electronic communication though.

What about, you know, just talking. Like in person.

Just depends how far the NBA is willing to go, and generally the answer has been only far enough to make it seem like they're doing something about a problem.

otoh, a little consistency and enforcement would go a long way towards making sure the ethical GMs and agents behave themselves.

First thing they need to do is expand their scope to player reps not just agents otherwise the World Wide Wes's of the league will continue to broker deals behind the scenes,

[Revenged25]

If they're using business phones what's the problem? Good luck doing business without electronic communication though.

What about, you know, just talking. Like in person.

pssh screw talking in person. I'd go full Courier Pigeon on their rears.

[cthunshammer]

"I don't think he should have any right to get into my phone," one GM told ESPN.

Not your phone, your company's phone. They have every right to do whatever they want with it.

[Barcs]

Tampering will still happen, there is no point in fighting it. The NBA even has a "legal tampering" period, that doesn't help their cause.

I agree if it's strictly business phones, it's fair. But if they are monitoring personal devices as well, then it's a violation of privacy. And if they are not monitoring personal phones, what's to stop GMs from tampering using their personal phones? It's a catch 22 that solves nothing.

I think they just need to leave it alone. If a player wants to go and talk to other teams through back channels, it's still going to happen, no matter what silly policies they try to implement. Are they going to force all players to wear recording devices every time they hang out with a friend who plays on a different team?