NBA teams and players have made something of a mockery of the league’s anti-tampering rules, and there is a clear desire to put a stop to that.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the NBA recently sent a memo to teams outlining several proposals intended to increase compliance. These measures include a significant hike in tampering fines, audits, and forcing teams to report on and certify their own behavior.
In an effort to prevent tampering, NBA sent memo to teams about improving compliance, @TheAthletic @Stadium has learned.
Memo proposes that a lead team ops member certify annually that it didn’t engage in impermissible free agency talks; max fine amounts raised significantly.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2019
Proposed increases in NBA’s maximum fine penalties for tampering and cap circumvention, @TheAthletic @Stadium has learned:
– Tampering with player/team personnel: $10M, up from $5M.
– Unauthorized agreements: $6M for team; $250K for player.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2019
Further proposed rules as NBA works to crack down on tampering: increased enforcement of existing rule prohibiting player-to-player tampering; require team governor to certify no unauthorized benefits were offered/provided; investigatory audits of 5 teams annually, at random.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2019
As part of potential new guidelines, NBA owners must personally certify that every contract complies with all rules, per sources. Teams would be required to report, within 24 hours, of a player/agent soliciting unauthorized benefits or contact regarding contract matters.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2019
This comes on the heels of a season when the league’s tampering rules seemed like more of a suggestion than a set of laws. One prominent case came when LeBron James publicly urged the Lakers to acquire Anthony Davis, which the NBA let pass to the fury of many small market owners. The free agency period was also filled with players working things out with other players — and involving teams — during a period where it should not have been permissible. The league doesn’t want to see that happening anymore, and increasing the fines should make it less of a slap on the wrist, too.
