Lakers Warn Staff Of Potential Tampering Before Free Agency Starts – Report

The Los Angeles Lakers recently set up a meeting to warn all staff members about potential tampering before the NBA free agency period starts, according to an ESPN report on Wednesday.

Lakers Warned Of Possible Tampering

Jeanie Buss, the Lakers co-owner, reportedly organized the meeting, which the team’s president of basketball operations Magic Johnson played a major role in.

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Tampering refers to the practice of players, coaches or executives enticing a player under contract with another team to join his/her organization. This act is strictly prohibited under NBA rules.

Over the last year, the NBA has reprimanded the Lakers twice for tampering. In February, the league fined the team $50,000 after Johnson praised Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s playing ability in an interview.

“I’m just happy he’s starting in the All-Star Game because he deserves that,” Johnson said of the Bucks star at the time. “And he’s going to be like an MVP, a champion. This dude, he’s going to put Milwaukee on the map. And I think he’s going to bring them a championship one day.”

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Before that, the Lakers were forced to pay $500,000 in August 2017 following an investigation that concluded with the NBA discovering proof of contact between general manager Rob Pelinka and Paul George‘s agent after they had already been warned about tampering.

Free agency officially starts on July 1.