NBA Releases Memo Informing Teams of Official Tampering Guidelines
By Jerry Trotta
Last week, news broke that Adam Silver was, following a meeting with the NBA's Board of Bovernors, inserting stern penalties for teams, players, and executives who engage in tampering acts in 2019 and beyond.
These retributions included the loss of draft picks, suspensions, torpedoed contracts, and even fines up to $10 million. What was left to sort out, however, was the outline of what actually qualifies as tampering, despite the league-wide knowledge of the violation.
Well, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Friday that the Association has sent out at an inscription to each team detailing the new tampering guidelines.
The NBA has sent memo to teams with official tampering guidelines; some key points:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 27, 2019
- Conduct from player inducing another player to demand trade will be violative of tampering.
- Isolated comments by team official praising another player will no longer be regarded as violation.
These had to be the expected essential pointers, right? After a season of prevalent behind-the-scenes conversing, players are no longer permitted to persuade others to demand trades.
It's ironic that this news comes just a few days after the league bizarrely opted to fine the Milwaukee Bucks on tampering charges for discussing the contract extension of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Based on that settlement taking place just three days before this new protocol, it's fair to assume discussing contract terms with the public stands as tampering.
Additional key points in NBA’s official tampering guidelines sent to teams in memo on Friday:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 27, 2019
- League will not confiscate phone/computer during its five random audits.
- New hotline created to allow teams and others with information to anonymously report potential violations. https://t.co/TbSh9URuc4
At least players wont have to worry about their phones or tablets being taken by the league!
So, yes, the NBA is creating a new tampering hotline in its fresh guidelines, @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium has learned. The league will also not look to take phones or computers in its investigatory audits.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 27, 2019
At the surface, it sounds like confiscating electronics would be a surefire investigative method to determine a tampering act, but that's just us.
Stay tuned for further updates on these new ground rules.