Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George shined light today into his offseason situation which resulted in a hefty tampering fine for the Lakers, explaining how the saga first originated. George, who requested a trade to the Lakers in the offseason, played a role in the franchise losing $500,000.
In the NBA’s press release at the time, the league stated the conduct at issue involved communications between Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and Paul George’s agent, but George claims it started with a different conversation, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Paul George just revealed the tampering charge against the Lakers was related to conversations he had with Brian Shaw. The official NBA release said it related to conversations between Rob Pelinka and George’s agent.
Despite George’s claim, Ramona Shelburne reports that was not the main reason why the Lakers were fined. The league investigated the relationship between Shaw and George around that time. George denied there was any tampering between him and Shaw, explaining it was the Pacers who were led to believe there was.
Multiple sources tell ESPN that the league investigation found no evidence of tampering as it relates to Brian Shaw and Paul George. The league investigated their relationship this summer. Today George also publicly denied there was tampering in his relationship with Shaw, but revealed the Pacers thought there was.
George called the NBA’s decision to fine the Lakers $500,000 as “comical”, stating he only spoke to Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw about fishing, according to team reporter Bill Oram. The Pacers were under the belief that George was being recruited to Los Angeles through Shaw.
George is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, with the Lakers expected to be one team interested in his services. Lakers President Magic Johnson publicly stated his interest in George during an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show last June.
