Did Lakers’ wooing of George cross a line?
League investigating possible tampering after Pacers make formal complaint
The NBA reportedly has launched an investigation after a formal complaint by the Indiana Pacers that the Los Angeles Lakers were guilty of tampering in their flirtation with Paul George.
Lakers president Magic Johnson, general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss have been contacted by a league investigator and asked to supply “any correspondence pertaining to” George, his agent and his parents, according to a report from Peter Vecsey on Patreon. The Pacers and the NBA have had no comment on the report.
The Lakers, Johnson and George were hardly shy about expressing their mutual admiration. George, who is from the L.A. area, had his agent convey in June that he preferred to play for the Lakers and that he would not return to Indiana when his contract expired after the 2017-18 season.
George has often spoken of his friendship with Johnson and, shortly after his intention to leave the Pacers was announced, Johnson tweeted: “God is so good!” On an episode of ESPN’s The Jumplast week, reporter Brian Windhorst said “the Lakers have all but put up a billboard announcing they want to sign” George.
In a nudge-nudge, wink-wink filled interview with Jimmy Kimmel in April, Johnson acknowledged that he’d like to get George but added that, you know, talking about that would be wrong.
“I had to go to school. I had to go to CBA school, salary cap school and tampering school,” he said with a laugh.
“You can’t tamper with somebody else’s player.”
Kimmel pressed Magic, asking what would happen if he ran into George somewhere.
“We gonna say hi because we know each other, you just can’t say, ‘Hey, I want you to come to the Lakers,’ even though I’ll be wink-winking like, ‘You know what that means, right?’ ”
If he doesn’t, we do. Tampering happens fairly often, especially in a social media age in which team rivalries can become diminished by the chumminess of star athletes.
Take Draymond Green, for instance. Given that nothing happened when Green helped recruit Kevin Durant from Oklahoma City to the Golden State Warriors a year ago, with text messages that Sports Illustrated reported began after the War- riors’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the NBA final. Durant was under contract to the Thunder for 12 days while the conversations took place.
Tampering, according to Article 35 of the NBA’s constitution and bylaws, occurs when a team or its representative attempts to persuade a player, coach, trainer, general manager or any other person who is under contract with another team to join the tampering team. Anyone, even a player, can tamper and can be punished.
Allegations are investigated and must be supported by evidence. Punishment can include fines, suspensions, forfeiture of draft picks and transfers of draft picks from the tampering team to the victimized team. Tampering by a player can result in a suspension by the commissioner and a fine of up to $50,000.
As far as this season is concerned, the Pacers deflected Johnson’s pass, trading George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis on June 30.
George talked a good game upon his arrival in Oklahoma, saying he was “thrilled” by the chance to play with Russell Westbrook.
“All I wanted was the chance and the opportunity to play for something special,” he said in July.
“To ultimately try to win a championship, and right off the bat, I think I get that here, playing alongside Russ.”
That likely won’t deter any suitors, including the Lakers: George could still head for Los Angeles next summer when he is an unrestricted free agent.