Fansided

What happens if the Lakers are found to have tampered with Paul George?

By Joe Romano

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 20: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 20, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 20: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 20, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers are under investigation by the NBA for tampering charges with former-Pacer, now Thunder star Paul George.

The Pacers filed tampering charges against the Lakers for their pursuit of their former All Star forward Paul George. The league released a statement on Sunday that the investigation is now underway.

Earlier this summer, George made his desire to return to L.A. and play for his hometown Lakers very clear. The allegations go further than George’s statements and declare that the Lakers made contact with George while he was still under contract with Indiana.

The NBA has given out penalties to teams for tampering in the past. In 2013,the NBA fined both the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks an undisclosed amount of money. Both teams sent e-mails preparing their free agency plans, which happened to include players on other teams.

Harsher fines have also been levied by the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves were found to have tampered with Joe Smith on a side-contract that would circumvent the salary cap. ESPN’s story on tampering laid out the penalties. 

"Minnesota was fined $3.5 million, five first-round picks were stripped (two were eventually returned) and GM Kevin McHale and owner Glen Taylor were also suspended."

What does all this mean for Paul George, the Pacers and the Lakers?

George could face substantial penalties. The league can block him from joining the Lakers and levy fines. There would need to be substantial evidence that the NBA finds in their investigation. For the Pacers, this is about George’s trade value.

Few thought the return Indiana received for George was adequate. Victor Oladipo, on a massive contract, and promising but limited big man Domantas Sabonis were the haul.

George is one of the best two way players in the league and only just hitting his late 20’s. Even with only a single year left on his deal, the Pacers will argue that George’s connection to L.A. sank his trade value around the league. The NBA will also look to prove that George’s desire came from contact from someone within L.A.’s organization, a tough accusation to prove.

For the Lakers, penalties can range from fines, to loss of draft picks and executive suspensions. If there is a paper-trail linking George to the Lakers, expect the harshest of penalties to be levied by the NBA. George’s agent does represent players on the Lakers so phone calls between him and Lakers’ president of basketball operations Magic Johnson. would not be enough to show evidence of tampering.

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Some will point to Johnson’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live as (circumstantial) evidence of tampering.

The NBA will continue to look at all evidence of tampering against the Lakers. One thing is for certain, Magic Johnson is ready to make the Lakers a championship contender again. He may just have to do it without Paul George.

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