Report: NBA proposes higher max fines, other new rules to curb tampering
As part of a league-wide bid to prevent tampering, the NBA sent a memo to teams proposing to increase the maximum fine for a violation involving a player or team personnel under contract from $5 million to $10 million next season, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Unauthorized agreements will also result in a $6-million fine for the team and a $250,000 levy for the player involved.
The increased fines are just one of a number of new rules the league has proposed ahead of the 2019-20 season, Charania adds. It is also requesting that teams designate one lead operations member to annually verify that the club has not been involved in any illegitimate free-agency discussions.
In an effort to enforce the suggested changes, five teams would be randomly selected for an annual audit.
The NBA Board of Governors will meet Sept. 20 to vote on whether the guidelines will be implemented for this upcoming season.
Tampering was an underlying theme throughout the 2018-19 campaign.
Former Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson infamously admitted he grew so tired with the numerous warnings and fines for complimenting players on other teams that he shockingly resigned from his role in order to once again publicly praise stars without penalty.
Clandestine deals were also a talking point leading up to free agency. Though the negotiating window only officially opened at 6 p.m. ET on June 30, several teams already had reported agreements with players, some as early as days in advance.
Kawhi Leonard, one of the biggest free-agent stars available this summer after leading the Toronto Raptors to the NBA title, also sparked discussions of tampering after it was reported he lobbied Paul George to convince the Oklahoma City Thunder to trade him to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Thunder then officially shipped George to L.A. on July 6 just minutes before Leonard signed his Clippers contract.
However, when the two reportedly met, Leonard was technically not employed by an NBA franchise and no punishment has been issued to him or the Clippers since. Increased enforcement of an already existent rule that prevents player-to-player tampering is on the NBA's list of suggested reforms, though it's unclear how that would affect free agents in similar situations to Leonard.