It appears the NBA is ratcheting up its efforts to snuff out potential tampering. The New York Times’ Marc Stein reported on Monday that the league is engaging in investigation surrounding the trade request coming from Anthony Davis.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass on the Anthony Davis trade demand: "We commenced an investigation this morning upon reading the reports regarding Anthony Davis. That process is ongoing.”
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 28, 2019
This is likely the league’s response to concerns voiced from the Pelicans’ franchise regarding the potential role tampering has played in this process.
Pels statement continued: "…of our organization. We have also requested the League to strictly enforce the tampering rules associated with this transaction." https://t.co/kPI6HOkZrF
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 28, 2019
The subject of New Orleans’ initial frustrations were likely comments made by the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James earlier this season. Prior to the Dec. 21 matchup of the Lakers and Pelicans, James responded to media questions about him playing alongside Davis at Staples Center. LeBron, true to himself, didn’t bite his tongue at all, letting reporters know “that would be amazing.”
That news then led to James engaging with reporters days later regarding all the players he would like to share the court with and how he voices his opinions, but still “plays by the rules.”
There seemed to be a little more going on behind the scenes possibly, though. It was subsequently reported that LeBron James and Anthony Davis shared an evening, with the two dining together for a postgame meal. The entire chain of events eventually led to the NBA issuing a memo to all teams reminding them of the league’s policies surrounding tampering.
Obviously, the whole scenario isn’t black and white in an era where many players have significant relationships with one another- either as business partners, friends, or both.
What is for certain, however, is that issues revolving around tampering are nothing new for the Los Angeles Lakers, who caught a fine from the league in 2017 due to comments directed towards Paul George, made by their President of Basketball Operations, Magic Johnson.
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