At the request of the Indiana Pacers, the NBA launched an investigation of tampering investigations committed by the Los Angeles Lakers in the recruitment of All-Star Paul George, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. The NBA found enough evidence to fine the Lakers $500,000. GM Magic Johnson is taking the brunt of the blame and is willing to pay the price. From Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times:
“We can’t say a lot but we will correct the situation,” Johnson said Monday. “It’s under my watch. I apologize to Jeanie, and that was the main thing. I told her she could take it out of my salary because I don’t want the Lakers to be paying that fine. … I don’t want her spending $500,000, because she didn’t do anything. That’s on me.”
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Said Johnson on Monday: “We’re going to have meetings about it next week. … I’m gonna always care about the Laker brand, the Laker fans, so I apologize to them as well. The main thing is we’re going to move forward. We got 95% everything’s going great. This is the one thing that went bad. … This is something we can correct. Adam [Silver, NBA commissioner] is a great friend of mine. I’m glad he was able to do his job. Now I’m gonna do my job.”
The NBA had warned Johnson after comments made on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. Johnson spoke about that as well:
“This is just on a late-night show being funny,” Johnson said after touring a donation facility he helped organize with West Angeles Church to benefit victims of Tropical Storm Harvey. “But now I know I can’t do that. We’re OK. I haven’t thought twice about it. We made a mistake. … It’s under my watch. I’m gonna make sure it doesn’t happen anymore.”
A fine, even one as sizable as $500,000, is getting off easily; potential tampering punishments include the loss of draft picks or the right to sign certain players.
