The hubbub around the NBA has been the perceived tampering by LeBron James toward New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis. The NBA has decided to act quickly, sending a memo to all teams reminding them of the rule that tampering is not allowed.
“Employment contracts are to be respected and conduct that interferes with contractual employment relationships is prohibited,” the memo says via ESPN who acquired the update. “This principle is particularly important in today’s media environment, where any actions or comments relating to potential player movement receive immediate and widespread public attention.”
And public attention it certainly gathered. The trade machines were immediately fired up trying to get Davis to Los Angeles. That is one aspect of this story. The other was relayed last week, when many small-market general managers expressed their unhappiness with LeBron’s not-so-subtle attempt to get another superstar in Los Angeles. They view the NBA’s lack of enforcement of the tampering rule as a way of endorsing potentially getting Davis, one of the league’s best players, to a bigger market like Los Angeles. Davis quelled the rumors by publicly saying he is focused on New Orleans.
The Lakers are not newcomers to tampering. Last season the team was fined for comments made about Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the recruitment of California native Paul George. George ended up staying in Oklahoma City with the Thunder.
