The Heat and Bulls will each forfeit their next available second-round pick as a result of the NBA’s investigation into the free agent acquisitions of Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball, the league announced today in a press release.
According to the NBA’s announcement, both clubs violated league rules governing the timing of free agency discussions, having jumped the gun on negotiations with Lowry and Ball.
It’s no secret that most teams are in touch with players’ agents before free agency officially begins, but the league determined that the Heat’s deal for Lowry and the Bulls’ acquisition of Ball were particularly egregious, since they were sign-and-trade agreements (which require the approval of two teams and at least one player) that were reported within the opening minutes of free agency.
The league told teams in a memo that the Bulls and Heat “fully cooperated with the investigations,” which was taken into account when determining the penalties, says ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Both clubs issued statements acknowledging the penalties and saying they’re moving on with their seasons — the Heat said in their statement that they disagreed with the league’s ruling.
A lost second-round pick is the same penalty the Bucks faced a year ago for jumping the gun in free agency with Bogdan Bogdanovic. In that case, Bogdanovic ended up in Atlanta rather than Milwaukee — the Heat and Bulls landed their respective free agent targets, so it’s a little surprising the two teams this time around didn’t face harsher punishments. However, we don’t know exactly what the NBA’s investigations turned up.
Both the Heat and Bulls have traded away many of their upcoming second-rounders, so it’s possible they won’t actually have to forfeit a pick for a few years. According to RealGM, Miami has traded all its second-round selections through 2027, though the 2024 pick is top-50 protected and could remain with the Heat. Chicago has traded all its second-rounders through 2025.
However, the Heat are on track to receive the less favorable of Philadelphia’s and Denver’s second-rounders in 2022, assuming they make the playoffs. The Bulls, meanwhile, will receive Denver’s 2023 second-rounder if it’s not in the top 46. The NBA’s announcement today didn’t explicitly say that Miami and Chicago will be required to surrender their own next available second-rounders, so those ’22 and ’23 picks from other teams could be the ones forfeited.
It appears the Raptors and Pelicans – who worked with Miami and Chicago, respectively, in the Lowry and Ball sign-and-trades – will face no punishment. While that’s not a major surprise, it’s still a relief for those two teams — especially for the Pelicans, who acquired Garrett Temple via sign-and-trade in the Ball deal.
So the Heat lose their 2037 2nd rounder. Oh well
Good player… saw him dominating a group of 5 year olds in a tournament over the summer!
He won’t wait til he’s 21 to enter the deaft…or be around in the second round if he’s that good now. You must have him confused with the chubby kid picking his nose and crying on the end of the bench.
Now do every other organization, starting with PG and Kawhi talking, once Kawhi signed Clippers. Don’t tell me that wasn’t in cahoots, once Kawhi informed Clippers he’s signing with them.
Right, the Lakers should also lose a pick for talking to DDR as well. He’s even gone on the record for saying as much, BUT I HIGHLY doubt the NBA will even look into it at all…
Why didn’t Clippers lose a second round pick due to free agent violations on Kawhi?
Someone please explain to me
So what happens when the pick is forfeited? Is there just less picks in the draft that year? 59 instead of 60?
Correct. There was some discussion after the Bogdanovic ruling last year about how it probably hurts that 60th player (who now won’t be drafted) more than it hurts the Bucks.
Maybe they should give the forfeited pick to the worst team in the league, and work their way to back the top if there are multiple forfeited picks.
More incentive to tank.
can they help facilitate a trade by buying another teams 2nd round pick and then have it taken away so said contact disappears?
I personally think the team that forfeited the pick, should go back to the original team. That’s just me though. What about AD saying no to Boston and only wants to do Lakers? LOL I remember 1996, Shaq was tampering as hell but Stern never did anything about it.
Maybe they should have a lottery or something and the winner gets the pick.
That’s what I was thinking… like just 1 ping pong for every team, equal odds.
The announcement was vague because the few 2nds each team has left are all tied up in protections. Once those protections are resolved there will probably be further clarification. It’s possible both teams end up giving up their 2028 2nd outright.
So nothing? Good.
I thought it was meant to be a punishment for two teams that are sooo dumb that they truly do deserve been severely punished, but, alas this seems more like a blessing than a punishment!
I mean, how dumb you need to be to announce a trade or signing in the first minute of the free agency?
Does anyone give dumb awards to the team that announces the first trade?
What is the point in that?
Just take your time, do the signing but don’t announce it for a few hours, maybe the next day, or the day after that, it just ain’t rocket science, really!
Basically any team that gets caught doing this is because they are so dumb that they wanna get caught… & it doesn’t get any dumber than that, right?
It’s not the teams, it’s the “media” specifically those insiders and rumor-makers that have inside sources who leak the news. Or the players themselves, using social media to shout out their intentions to create the next super team with their buddies a full season before free agency (or when they demand a trade).
Every team tampers. It’s just what is deemed “okay” and who whistleblows on it. Granted its not an inside source, and is probably a slightly biased one considering how their bridge got burned, but JJ Reddick was the one who suggested months ago that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Pelicans/David Griffin blew the whistle on this since they lost out on Kyle Lowry, and by extension Lonzo, since they probably didn’t negotiate to hard with Lonzo since they thought they had a serious chance at Lowry.
This is hardly the first time a sign-and-trade has been reported before free agency officially opened, and it won’t be the last time.
I just don’t know why this tampering thing exists. Players are going to sign where they want to go wether teams talk to them or their agents before or after free agency.
It is the same penalty for the Bucks EXCEPT the deal didn’t go through to avoid a bigger penalty. The Bulls and Heat got their guys, and should have received a bigger penalty.
This kind of penalty is no deterrent. Nothing more than a nominal toll. Since it has no intention of enforcing the FA framework, the NBA should just eliminate it – make it OK to contact a rising FA as soon as his season is over. At least then, all market participants are on an even playing field.
Bucks lose a 60th pick
What is it worth?
IMO
Tampering should lose 3 future unprotected picks
LeBron tampering
Should the Lakers lose 2027, 2028 and 2029 picks?
Lakers don’t need picks, they need 3 free agent superstars or all time greats
Or, just count the contract in question as 2x for the cap (going forward) and tax. That will stop it.
Live in Chicago and am a Bulls fan. Losing a second round pick isn’t a big deal at all. I never understand why people make a bid deal about second round picks. Most players drafted in the second round aren’t even good enough for the NBA.
So glad the Bulls got off easy.
Ayo Dosunmo
Let’s wait and see if say two years from now if Dosunmo is a big deal or not.
Yes,most of them arent good enough for nba, but one of them is mvp. But im agree with u, i dont mind we dont have 2nd rounder next year, bcoz we got lonzo for it
You can literally just buy a good second round pick for a couple million bucks in the NBA it’s literally a non factor.
Why do anything?
Trying to appear as though favorites, and nepotism doesn’t occur in the NBA? Silly…
Why would any team follow the rules if you can snag an elite free agent for a second round pick?
What’s to stop a gm from trading every second rounder he get before the draft until he ends up with a pick in the 50s?
Not really much of a punishment but that fits considering it was much of a crime
Somebody still has to explain to me why the Bulls and Pelicans who OWNED the rights to the players involved until they BECAME free agents can’t discuss what they want to do with their own players. And if the Bulls and Heat did it, then how did the Pelicans and Raptors escape this so called rule of justice? What a load of crap.
Simple, the relationship between a team and its rising FAs (between the end of the season and the start of FA period) is governed by a set of rules in the CBA. All player contracts incorporate these rules. The home team’s right to deal with these players is set forth and it’s NOT the same as its rights to deal with other players under contract. Likewise, the CBA provides a different set of rules for how and when prospective suitors of a rising FA may act.
The real punishment would be to make them give guaranteed contracts to their 2nd round picks in the next draft. That would cut into ability to f#ck around in the free agent market.
I knew one of 2nd rounder become mvp last season, but its 1 in milion. So i dont mad with this.bulls got lonzo for a cheap price.
1 in maybe 1,500 or so (number of 2nd round picks in league history), for MVP. But another 2nd rounder from the same draft was 6th MOY last year, and there are at least 4-5 other quality starters from that same 2nd round.
Yeah Derozan even went on record saying that the Lakers tampered, but where is that investigation??
Why havent they had a second rounder taken away from them??
I guess it is only considered tampering if you end up with the player. If not, apparently you can do whatever you want, because that is the message that Silver is sending completely avoiding Derozan’s public comments and accusation…
Ohhhj wait, I forgot, the Lakers have the ALMIGHTY “King,” nevermind…Jesus, what was I thinking that they’d be held to the same standard and rules as everyone else!?! lol..Stupid me..
At least you admit that you are, appreciate your honesty!
this crap is all Bs . if the NBA wants to stop it then just come out n put a rule on it . where the agent can talk to any other team and teams can contact other teams on trades involving soon to be FA the slap a harsh penalty like both teams lose of the highest first Rd pick owned or that will be owned and then put said player back in fa pool with each team paying half the contract. Then enforce the s**t then it’s clear n cut u violate u pay the price would cut down on it .
Currently the NBA only cares if it’s something they don’t like . They pick in choose what rules to follow it seems .