Magic Johnson got the Lakers fined for tampering while still holding a ceremonial title. Once he actually took over the front office, he really got to work tampering. He got warned for blinking at Paul George on national television. Then – due to general manager Rob Pelinka’s communication with George’s agent and Johnson’s previous warning – the Lakers received one of the largest fines in NBA history. Johnson himself got the Lakers fined for praising Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The league investigated and cleared assistant coach Brian Shaw for tampering with George.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said the Lakers’ previous transgressions have put them under tighter scrutiny.
The Lakers just want this to end.
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:Lakers co-owner and governor Jeanie Buss called the meeting, which was led by president of basketball operations Magic Johnson.
Sources said Johnson and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka spoke to a large group of team employees, warning them about tampering.
Other employees received written notices on the matter that referenced possible termination as punishment for anyone who does not adhere to NBA rules.
Tampering often takes much more benign forms than a president or general manager recruiting a star player before free agency. It could be an offhand comment by a coach, an overzealous ticket pitch or a speculative article on the team website.
If Johnson’s and Pelinka’s tampering increases the Lakers’ odds of landing a star, that’s just the cost of doing business. If a lower-level staffer tampers, that’s an avoidable mistake.
Really, it’s comical this meeting is even newsworthy, and that’s a product of the Lakers’ previous violations.
But, as they pursue stars, they don’t want to chance the league imposing any additional restrictions.
So, the Lakers, in some ways are right back where they started.