Shot across the Blazers bow? (tampering)

[Natebishop3]

The NBA issued an unexpected, leaguewide memorandum to its teams Tuesday to remind them about tampering regulations and specifically warn them about illegal contact with Chris Paul. ESPN.com learned that the memo spells out that "no team should be having communications with Chris Paul or his agent or representative about a potential trade for Paul that have not been authorized in advance by the New Orleans Hornets."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5414701

 

[Natebishop3]

I wonder if this is the "drama" that Quick is going to report about.

 

[EGame]

What that the Blazers are tampering with Paul? If so, I sincerely doubt it since the NBA would have taken action immediately and would not have waited for the great Quick to first report it.

 

[Blazer Freak]

This is something I've thought about during this Chris Paul saga, say we do get him. What if one of the teams that loses out wants a tampering investigation to go on between us and CP3? Obviously we have heard rumors in the past about it, and isn't that what caused Minny to lose their draft picks a while back because they already had a deal with Joe Smith before FA or something?

Just a thought I've had. Losing picks or something along those lines could still hamper us, even if we had CP3.

 

[ironcrotch]

The article says that Leon Rose specifically said he himself was in contact with teams about CP3 which I think is the no no in this situation. I think it's just Stern taking back some control and putting the kabosh on that.

 

[barfo]

isn't that what caused Minny to lose their draft picks a while back because they already had a deal with Joe Smith before FA or something?

No, not the same at all. Minnesota had a secret, contrary-to-the-CBA written contract with Joe Smith.

barfo

 

[THE HCP]

NOW Stern wants to crack down on tampering. Month late don't you think?

 

[THE HCP]

Actually, I would have Brandon just give him a call and talked him into coming here!

 

[BBert]

Actually, I would have Brandon just give him a call and talked him into coming here!

That would be great. Assuming Brandon actually wants Paul coming here. If he does, he should have already done so.

 

[Minstrel]

Players can't tamper? That seems like a massive loophole. What prevents GMs from just talking to a player on another team, or his agent, through one of their own players?

 

[Draco]

No, not the same at all. Minnesota had a secret, contrary-to-the-CBA written contract with Joe Smith.

barfo

Yeah, Smith had an under the table agreement to play for less money then receive an enormous raise in future seasons when he attained full bird rights. It was blatant circumvention of the salary cap by McHale and ownership which is far worse than a tampering charge.

 

[ironcrotch]

That would be great. Assuming Brandon actually wants Paul coming here. If he does, he should have already done so.

Yeah, would be cool to see Brandon recruit CP3 but then would be subsequently traded to get CP3 here.

Actually that's not cool at all.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think it's more than just a shot across the bow for Portland. The Knicks have been pretty blatant and public in their pursuit of Pual, as have the Magic and the Mavs (and god only knows who else).

I think what it means is that if Leon Rose or Maverick Carter are calling you to talk about Paul via back channels and the Hornets or the league office catch wind of it, the hammer is going to fall, this feels like Stern having had enough of players and their agents resetting the balance of power around the league.

 

[OddEnormous]

Yours truly,

Dwayne Wade

 

[e_blazer]

From the CBA FAQ page:

95. What is tampering?
Tampering is when a player or team directly or indirectly entices, induces or persuades anybody (player, general manager, etc.) who is under contract with another team to negotiate for their services. The NBA takes tampering very seriously and may impose stiff penalties if it is discovered, however the league will not investigate unless another team files tampering charges. Here are some examples:

•The Miami Heat were discovered to have tampered with Pat Riley in 1995 by negotiating with Riley while he was still head coach of the New York Knicks. The Heat "settled," and avoided league-imposed penalties, by compensating the Knicks with $1 million and their first round draft pick in 1996.
•After Will Perdue left San Antonio in the 1999 offseason to sign with Chicago, he commented to the press about the possibility of the Bulls signing Tim Duncan and/or Grant Hill in 2000. The league considered this to be tampering, and issued Perdue a warning.
You may have noticed that when general managers and other team personnel talk to the press, they are careful to avoid talking about specific players who play for other teams. They do this in order to avoid tampering.

Dwayne Wade talking to his cronies about signing with the Heat wasn't tampering because LeBron and Bosh were free agents, not under contract like Chris Paul is.

 

[B-Roy]

From the CBA FAQ page:



Dwayne Wade talking to his cronies about signing with the Heat wasn't tampering because LeBron and Bosh were free agents, not under contract like Chris Paul is.

But do we know that they DIDN'T talk about it while under contract?

I mean, it has certainly been speculated....

 

[e_blazer]

Players can't tamper? That seems like a massive loophole. What prevents GMs from just talking to a player on another team, or his agent, through one of their own players?

Yes, players can be fined for tampering too.

Tampering is when a player or team directly or indirectly entices, induces or persuades anybody (player, general manager, etc.) who is under contract with another team to negotiate for their services

.

 

[e_blazer]

But do we know that they DIDN'T talk about it while under contract?

I mean, it has certainly been speculated....

Could be that they did. In fact, I'd say it's pretty likely. That may be why Mark Cuban asked the league to look into the whole deal. I'd think that somebody would have to provide proof and that might be hard to come by.

 

[OddEnormous]

From the CBA FAQ page:



Dwayne Wade talking to his cronies about signing with the Heat wasn't tampering because LeBron and Bosh were free agents, not under contract like Chris Paul is.

I'm sure they didn't speak about it until the second the free agent window opened.


Edit: So it's been discussed. And you agreed that it probably DID happen.

You're like this one friend of mine. Someone in the group will ask the rest of the group "What time is it?". Someone will answer "It's 4:45." BUT this one friend of mine will always correct them "Actually it's 4:43."


It kind of pisses everyone off. Even though he's correct.

 

[Idog1976]

NOW Stern wants to crack down on tampering. Month late don't you think?

No right on time! A small market team might become a powerhouse. We wouldn't want that. Seriously, if Stern nixes a CP3 trade agreed to by NOH and Portland over tampering I will fucking flip out. I mean like big time. I certainly will stop watching this god forsaken league that at that point will be nothing more then a farm league with a few anointed big market teams. Fuck Stern.

 

[Idog1976]

From the CBA FAQ page:



Dwayne Wade talking to his cronies about signing with the Heat wasn't tampering because LeBron and Bosh were free agents, not under contract like Chris Paul is.

Riiiiiight cause LBJ, Bosh and LeBron certainly didn't talk about it during the Olympics as was widely reported in about 200 languages.

 

[Idog1976]

The memo, sources said, also threatens penalties for any such communications that could potentially include "suspension of the offending person, prohibition of the offending team from hiring the person being tampered with, forfeiture of draft picks and individual and/or team fines of up to $5 million."

HMM, I wonder which choice Stern would chose for Portland. Oh and a shout out for AWOJ who has laid a lot of groundwork for Stern on this one. I really hate that little bastard (Stern).

 

[e_blazer]

You're like this one friend of mine. Someone in the group will ask the rest of the group "What time is it?". Someone will answer "It's 4:45." BUT this one friend of mine will always correct them "Actually it's 4:43."


It kind of pisses everyone off. Even though he's correct.

And you're still friends? Wow.

I was just trying to point out that, in terms of tampering allegations, there's a pretty significant difference between the CP3 situation and the Heat signing a bunch of free agents. Sorry if that disturbed your digestion.

 

[Idog1976]

And you're still friends? Wow.

I was just trying to point out that, in terms of tampering allegations, there's a pretty significant difference between the CP3 situation and the Heat signing a bunch of free agents. Sorry if that disturbed your digestion.

What's the difference? Or do you believe that they really only started talking about this once they became official FA's in June? I mean do you really believe that when there were absolute boatloads of rumors about their "plan" after Beijing?

 

[Pritchslap Madness]

I wonder if this is the "drama" that Quick is going to report about.

He said it was about a Blazer player. So I sure hope its is about this then that would mean Chris Paul a Blazer!!!

 

[BGrantFan]

Riiiiiight cause LBJ, Bosh and LeBron certainly didn't talk about it during the Olympics as was widely reported in about 200 languages.

No doubt. I swear I've read many articles about how Wade, James, and Bosh talked about this scenario while winning gold in 2008.

Stern just wants his mega-teams in huge markets. Part of me thinks that the Blazers may have a deal for Paul, but now Stern is stepping in to stop it. We can't have tiny Portland be an elite team via trade, right? That only works when Chris Wallace is giving away titles to the Lakers.

 

[RoyToy]

Better watch your back Larry Miller

 

[Idog1976]

No doubt. I swear I've read many articles about how Wade, James, and Bosh talked about this scenario while winning gold in 2008.

Stern just wants his mega-teams in huge markets. Part of me thinks that the Blazers may have a deal for Paul, but now Stern is stepping in to stop it. We can't have tiny Portland be an elite team via trade, right? That only works when Chris Wallace is giving away titles to the Lakers.

Pretty much. This actually could be read as Portland and NOH are close to a trade. Something (common sense) tells me he wouldn't be so concerned if CP3 was say having dinner with D'Antoni in NYC.

 

[e_blazer]

What's the difference? Or do you believe that they really only started talking about this once they became official FA's in June? I mean do you really believe that when there were absolute boatloads of rumors about their "plan" after Beijing?

I already said that I thought they had probably talked over the past few years. Is it tampering for friends to talk about what they're going to do when they become free agents? Doubt it. Is it tampering for the Blazers or any team or any player to talk to another player who's under contract to try to get him to push for a trade while he's still under contract? Without a doubt.

 

[Idog1976]

I already said that I thought they had probably talked over the past few years. Is it tampering for friends to talk about what they're going to do when they become free agents? Doubt it. Is it tampering for the Blazers or any team or any player to talk to another player who's under contract to try to get him to push for a trade while he's still under contract? Without a doubt.

So the difference to you is trade vs. Free Agency. OK, I don't agree with your fine line distinction, but at least it makes sense.