Not too long ago, NBA executives used to wait until the stroke of midnight when free agency began, then knock on the door of their top target.
The NBA has moved the start of free agency to a more reasonable hour, but clearly, they didn’t wait for the official start of free agency to negotiate. Commitments were being leaked to the media this summer even before free agency began.
Nearly a week into free agency, another type of potential tampering issue arose. Kawhi Leonard committed to the Clippers but only after he convinced Paul George, who just signed a long-term deal with the Thunder last offseason, to demand a trade and join him there.
Clearly, the league has a problem with back-room deals and wink-wink agreements. Last week, an ESPN report revealed that tampering — particularly before the free agency period was supposed to begin — was the primary topic at a tense owners meeting.
The NBA has launched an investigation and has penalties in place for tampering violations. However, it’s been 20 years since the league voided a contract after determining its free agency rules were circumvented.
Some ideas have been kicked around to try to keep things under control in the future. One proposal is to move free agency before the draft and allow negotiations to begin with free agents after their seasons are over. The league could also crack down on players trying to recruit free agents prematurely, or in the case of Leonard-George, recruiting players under contract to force trades.
This brings us to our question of the day: What can and should the league do about apparent widespread tampering, particularly before free agency?
Please take to the comments section to address this subject. We look forward to your input.
void the contract and forfeit of draft picks
Any player requesting a trade out of their current deal immediately voids the deal and can only be signed for the next 2 years at the veteran min. You signed a deal, for a lot of money, part of that deal means you committed to an organization and fans for X years. You shouldn’t be rewarded for shooting your way out of town. (Looking at you PG, AD)
And what about teams that trade players?
What about them? The right for teams to trade players was collectively bargained for and agreed upon.
And the players also have the right to request trades. If you’re going to take away their right you should also take away the team’s right.
The team employs the player. Not the other way around.
Teams that trade players are doing so to make their team better or increase their opportunities in the draft. Players that demand trades are trying to have their cake and eat it too. It’s a different dynamic in my book.
For everyone else in the work force we have to make the choice between comfort and economics. Could I make a little more at X company for what I do? Sure, but what do I give up by doing so? NBA players don’t have that reality right now, they can demand to play with who they want to with no economical impact. They are going to still get theirs, it’s just not reality based, and it puts small markets and other places at a disadvantage for the sake of markets like LA, Miami, and CA in general.
I’m not saying they can’t still make that choice, but the only way to curb the behavior is to make it an economically unsavory decision. Guys get hurt all the time, do you really want to leave $100 mil on the table to play with your buddies?
I just don’t understand your first paragraph. Teams trade players to improve their situation, players ask for trades to improve their situation. I don’t see why it’s okay for one and not the other. No players have ever not fulfilled their contract by sitting out after a trade request.
It’s ridiculous to compare anything about the NBA to the regular workforce because NBA players are at the very top of their field. You and I weren’t scouted in middle School for our current jobs. NBA players are the equivalents of executives in any other company, and I guarantee you comparable stuff happens all the time in those situations.
Don’t forget teams that draft players in the first round control their rights for the next five YEARS at minimum. I bet that’s not the case where the average person works.
@LordBanana have you actually read the CBA? These aren’t “average people” far from it. Google NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, read it, draw an educated conclusion, apply it to 2019 free agency and then repost your “opinion”
Agree, but there is a trade off there in that the players still get compensated for their performance based on other kickers within the league. It’s not like these guys are making mlb min for 5 years at 500k a year.
It’s not a perfect system, and I agree players have a right to change their employers, but I don’t think they should be blanket rewarded for that. Neither side should have total control, but that requires a commissioner who takes both the NBAPA and owners to task.
Nothing I have said will actually happen anyways. Players will continue to make back room deals, and the NBA will look the other way as long as the money comes in. This is just a thought exercise on what would stop some of the behavior.
Also, while it’s not defined in the contract for most regular employees of a company, try finding a large salary increase within an org once they have you, you usually have to get a 3rd party involved before that is even an option; and most companies will try to call your bluff.
I’m just saying in the end, to curb individual players blasting their way out of town for greener pastures, the only way to limit it is to tie it financially to their earnings. Otherwise we will end up with a largely non-competitive NBA, where 4-5 teams will be perennial champions while the rest are just also ran:
This is lunacy players can demand trades until they are blue in the face but it’s ultimately up to the team to decide whether or not to trade them. Also if a player is being vocal with his trade demands then it allows for the team maximize their returns like OKC and NO did, rather than to let the player walk for nothing at the end of his contract. Lastly imagine Jimmy Butler still on Minnesota and that’s the kinda league it would be, 0 team chemistry.
Also, any player who openly recruits players who are under contract subjects his team to a 25% cap penalty that is rewarded to the team that player currently plays for as a cap exception for the period of time that player plays for the team. No more LBJ or Warriors super teams unless the guys they recruit are willing to forgo $ to fit into the restricted cap of the team they are trying to get to.
So, like the first super team in Miami?
James Wade and Bosh were all Free Agents. Not quite. I think he means Lakers LeBron recruiting AD who was under contract.
This is a business…like it or not. Tampering, when evidence is proven, should result in voiding the contract. The commissioners office needs to get on the F$@%!ng ball and correct “in real time” these slights.
How else can a “collective bargaining agreement” be HONORED?
They don’t pay me enough to brainstorm ideas for them. This is their problem, they should fix it!
Winner
Id say keep fining the Lakers each and every time Magic appears on Kimmel. That will work
How about, actually enforcing the rules! Too many ‘star’ players or large market teams in all sports get away with everything because of who they are. Yes, they may be the face of the league or your franchise, but by allowing them to do what they want, only teaches young players to do the same and nothing changes until a star player or team are held accountable and penalized. Players in all sports seem to only care about guaranteed money, hit them and the acquiring team with a guaranteed max fine, loss of picks and loss of international money to spend.
Everyone who is found tampering should be executed.