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Hawks potentially facing tampering charges?

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Sydeffect, Jun 4, 2013.

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Sydeffect Member

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hawks may have violated the NBA’s anti-tampering policy by mentioning Dwight Howard and Chris Paul by name in a recent letter sent to prospective ticket buyers.
Howard, who is from Atlanta, and Paul are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents July 1. As each currently is under contract, with the Lakers and Clippers respectively, a team is not allowed to speak about them publicly.
The letter, obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was sent via email by a member of the ticket-sales department. It was on team letterhead and headlined “Hot New Player news: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.” It began with the statement: “The buzz around our offseason is more than heating up. With massive cap space, 4 draft picks, and free agency rapidly approaching, we sit in the best position in the NBA. Player interest is skyrocketing as the possibilities of landing Chris Paul & Dwight Howard become more and more of a reality.”
The letter included a link to a story on ESPN.com reporting that Paul was unhappy with the notion that he played a role in the dismissal of coach Vinny Del Negro last month.
“This is your opportunity to get on board before its (sic) too late. Once we solidify our signings there will be no seats left,” the letter added.
Hawks president Bob Williams issued a statement on the issue Tuesday evening. “The letter that has been referred to was written by one of our season-ticket reps of his own volition. While certainly he is a member of our business staff, his specific reference clearly does not represent how our basketball operations or our business staff have consistently communicated about free agency. It is unfortunate that this mistake, by a single ticket rep with no ill intent, occurred.”
According to a league spokesman, the NBA would not comment on the situation.
As part of its collective bargaining agreement, the league defines tampering as when a player or a team directly or indirectly entices, induces or persuades anyone under contract with another team in order to negotiate for their services. The NBA detailed its anti-tampering policy in a memo sent to all 30 teams in 2008. The letter read: “If a member of your organization is asked by the media about a potential free agent before the July 1 following the last season covered by the player’s contract, or about any other person under contract with another NBA team, the only proper response is to decline comment.” The ban extends to general managers, coaches, players or any employee of an organization.
The league has issued hefty fines in the past for tampering, particularly in 2010 when LeBron James became an unrestricted free agent, for the mere mention of a player under contract with another team. The Hawks were one team disciplined.
Co-owner Michael Gearon was fined $25,000 for comments he made to the AJC on May 27, 2010 about then-Cavaliers forward James. Gearon said “If somebody came to us tomorrow and said you can have LeBron for max money and it puts you in the luxury tax, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But am I going to do that for (Zydrunas) Ilgauskas? Am I going to do it for Jermaine O’Neal? I don’t think so. …”
That was the third time that week that the league issued a fine for tampering. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $100,000 for saying “anybody” would be interested in James in an interview. He added that it would be tough to sign the league MVP in free agency, but a sign-and-trade deal with Cleveland is something he would look at. Steve Kerr, then president of basketball operations for the Suns, was fined $10,000 for comments he made.
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http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/hawks-mention-of-howard-paul-in-letter-may-constit/nYBg6/

#1 Sydeffect, Jun 4, 2013

Da Wink Member

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haha..poor hawks.

#2 Da Wink, Jun 4, 2013
amaru Member

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Meh..

#3 amaru, Jun 4, 2013
IzakDavid13 Contributing Member

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The Atlanta who?

#4 IzakDavid13, Jun 4, 2013
BamBam Contributing Member

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.......
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#5 BamBam, Jun 4, 2013
JuanValdez Contributing Member

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It's tampering only in a legal sense. The players weren't tampered with in any actual, meaningful way. I'm more offended by the letter's bad writing and its transparent attempt to deceive Hawks fans.

#6 JuanValdez, Jun 5, 2013
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IzakDavid13 said: ↑

The Atlanta who?
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This. The Atlanta Hawks are irrelevant.

#7 RedDynasty, Jun 5, 2013

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So, are they eliminated from the Howard sweepstakes or do they just have to pay a meaningless fine??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

#8 jimmyv281, Jun 5, 2013
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jimmyv281 said: ↑

So, are they eliminated from the Howard sweepstakes or do they just have to pay a meaningless fine??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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BOTH :grin:

#9 vlaurelio, Jun 5, 2013
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Harden/Parsons/Howard/Asik beats Paul/Horford/Howard both now and in the future. That doesnt even factor in that Houston would have the pieces to put together a decent bench, whereas Atlanta would have NOTHING outside of their big 3.

#10 finsraider, Jun 5, 2013
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Really Atlanta would be great if they got Howard. So funny he doesn't seem to want to go there.

Go rockets!

#11 CCorn, Jun 5, 2013
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Aside from not being a favoured franchise, how is this different from when the Knicks kept talking about signing Lebron and DWade?

#12 da_juice, Jun 5, 2013
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da_juice said: ↑

Aside from not being a favoured franchise, how is this different from when the Knicks kept talking about signing Lebron and DWade?
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when did the Knicks organization do this? If they did it before the Lebron or DWade was a free agent then they would have to be penalized. Dwight isn't a free agent until July 1st.

#13 tallanvor, Jun 5, 2013

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finsraider said: ↑

Harden/Parsons/Howard/Asik beats Paul/Horford/Howard both now and in the future. That doesnt even factor in that Houston would have the pieces to put together a decent bench, whereas Atlanta would have NOTHING outside of their big 3.
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Except Lou Williams, possibly Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver as well as whatever they do with their first round picks. Howard and Asik combo does not work.

#14 ball4life66, Jun 6, 2013
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CCorn said: ↑

Really Atlanta would be great if they got Howard. So funny he doesn't seem to want to go there.

Go rockets!
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The only reason he might not want to go there would be because of having to deal with family/friends asking for tickets but I bet he would go if the Hawks got Paul.

#15 ball4life66, Jun 6, 2013
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Hahaha thanks ATL!!!

#16 Angkor Wat, Jun 6, 2013
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ball4life66 said: ↑

Except Lou Williams, possibly Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver as well as whatever they do with their first round picks. Howard and Asik combo does not work.
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so whose taking the $10m paycut, Paul or Howard?

#17 Aleron, Jun 6, 2013
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Three teams have been fined for tampering, according to an internal league memo obtained by @<a href="https://twitter.com/usatodaysports">usatodaysports</a>. Atlanta is one.Story to come...</p>— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) <a href="https://twitter.com/sam_amick/status/344192846972215296">June 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

#18 J.R., Jun 10, 2013

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J.R. said: ↑

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Three teams have been fined for tampering, according to an internal league memo obtained by @<a href="https://twitter.com/usatodaysports">usatodaysports</a>. Atlanta is one.Story to come...</p>— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) <a href="https://twitter.com/sam_amick/status/344192846972215296">June 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Apparently Houston and Sacramento are the other two...

https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine

too new to know how to inbed tweets, sry hahaha

#19 pwnyxpress, Jun 10, 2013
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This might have been what got the Rockets fined.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Lol yup! RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/arankin11">arankin11</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/jharden13">jharden13</a> You been doing some recruiting big dawg?</p>— James Harden (@JHarden13) <a href="https://twitter.com/JHarden13/status/337305996332523520">May 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

#20 hooroo, Jun 10, 2013

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