The Los Angeles Lakers were fined $500,000 by the league office after an investigation found the team responsible for the violation of the NBA's anti-tampering rule earlier today.

While most thought president Magic Johnson's often-candid ways could be the reason of this violation, it was ultimately former agent-turned-general manager Rob Pelinka who was at fault, reportedly talking with Paul George's agent Aaron Mintz and sharing a “prohibited expression of interest in the player while he's under contract,” according to Mark Medina of the San Jose Mercury News.

Earlier this month, an anonymous player-agent shared that Pelinka would know ways to “tamper without getting caught” as a result of the then-ongoing investigation and Pelinka' former experience with his clients.

Mintz, who also represents forward Julius Randle, could re-engage chats with the Lakers' brass at the end of the season, as his Lakers-employed client is expected to not be part of the team by next season.

The Lakers released a statement to the fans and the rest of the league, promising this would never occur in the future, but it won't change the aggressive agenda they're expected to roll out next offseason.

While the fine is the largest anti-tampering one in NBA history, the Lakers were not stripped of any draft picks or prohibited from making a bid for George this upcoming summer. George is still expected to be one of the key targets after the front office made a concerned effort to keep next year's books clean.