The NBA is opening an investigation into the free-agency process after several teams raised concerns about tampering according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst.
This free agency was one of the wildest in NBA history, with a staggering 40% of the NBA being free agents. Many of the high profile signings were agreed to either before the official start of the tampering period or in the beginning moments of it. According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst, the owners were trying to come up with ideas on changes to free agency to help eliminate early tampering.
The investigation followed a tense owners meeting, which multiple sources described to ESPN. Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, speaking as the head of the labor committee, discussed the possible need to revisit free-agency rules in the next collective bargaining agreement, sources said.
One possibility is allowing teams to talk to free agents and their representatives immediately after the end of the NBA Finals or a few days later, even if there is still some moratorium on deals becoming official until some set time after the draft. Another Idea was to conduct free agency, signings and all, before the NBA draft.
The Houston Rockets proposed this change last year. When the league polled the 30 teams on Houston’s proposal this month, only 10 supported it. Several responded that they did not care either way.
According to Sopan Deb of the New York Times, the investigation is also focusing on whether teams tried to circumvent the NBA salary cap by offering players perks not allowed by the CBA.
NEWS: The NBA has opened an investigation into whether teams tried to circumvent the NBA salary cap by offering players perks not allowed by the CBA. (ESPN first revealed existence of investigation, but full scope was previously unknown.) https://t.co/jTIeEDv9Ky pic.twitter.com/k1OSb3er3G
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) July 24, 2019
Per a report on TSN Dennis Robertson, who is Kawhi Leonard’s Uncle and manager, had asked for “things players don’t generally ask for in standard contract negotiations,” without specifying what those things might be. While it is unclear if there was anything extra going on with Leonard’s camp and the Los Angeles Clippers, the league will do its due diligence to make sure to investigate the news. Leonard agreed to a contract with the Clippers and persuaded MVP candidate Paul George to join him.
When it was discovered that Joe Smith had signed short-term deals with the Minnesota Timberwolves that were less than his market value, with a secret promise that he would eventually get a more lucrative contract. The NBA handed down a $3.5 million fine and stripped Minnesota of five first-round picks. The penalty handed to the Clippers would be much more severe than the then record-breaking penalty to the Timberwolves.
After one of the most intense free agencies in NBA history, the league will now look to the future to try to understand how they can improve on free agency. The NBA does a great job of looking at and improving its flaws. This will be the next step in that process to improve the league.
