LeBron James is not a general manager in the NBA. Maybe someday, but as much as he seems to influence the going-ons that happen in NBA front offices, he’s not in charge of things. When he reportedly maybe wants a player on his team, though, the Lakers have to react to those reports and decide if not pleasing the most important player in the NBA is worth it.
The LeBron effect is very real, and it has an impact on those who don’t have James on the roster as well, especially when it comes to free agency. Which is why NBA general managers are apparently upset that James spoke publicly about how much he’d like to play with Anthony Davis. Currently on the New Orleans Pelicans, Davis isn’t a free agent until 2021. But there’s already considerable talk that the Lakers want to work a trade for him during the summer.
James was asked about potentially playing with Davis and raved about the opportunity, saying that the Lakers trading for Davis would be “amazing.” James has also, mind you, said he’s always wanted to play with the currently-teamless (kind of) Carmelo Anthony, so take that for what it’s worth. But GMs apparently think what James said should be considered tampering.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday that a number of anonymous general managers are frustrated that James has not been punished for his public comments about Davis. Namely, they want the rules on tampering clarified.
“It’s New Orleans’ problem today, and a problem with a different player tomorrow for the rest of us,” one Eastern Conference GM told ESPN. “It’s open season on small markets and our players.”
Wojnarowski included the rules in his story on Friday as well:
The NBA bylaws governing players states: “Any Player who, directly or indirectly, entices, induces, persuades or attempts to entice, induce or persuade any Player, Coach, Trainer, General Manager, or any other person who is under contract to any other Member of the Association to enter into negotiations for or relating to his services shall, on being charged with such tampering, should be given an opportunity to answer to such charges after due notice and the Commissioner shall have the power to decide whether or not the charges have been sustained …”
The basic thrust of Woj’s story is that some GMs think LeBron is given free reign to say whatever he wants without punishment for tampering despite it having a huge impact on what happens in the NBA.
One GM basically said that if James isn’t fined for tampering, they should change the rules to make it so more players can speak freely on the issue.
“If these are the rules, enforce them,” one Western Conference GM told ESPN. “If you want to push Anthony Davis in LA, if you allow LeBron to interfere with teams, then just do it. Change the rules, and say “It’s the wild, wild west and anything goes.
“But give us a list of the rules that you’re enforcing, and give us a list of the rules that you’re going to ignore.”
Shortly after the ESPN story went up, an NBA spokesperson sent Wojnarowski a response that he tweeted out on Friday.
An NBA spokesman tells ESPN: “Each case is assessed on its own facts. In general, absent evidence of team coordination or other aggravating factors, it is not tampering when a player makes a comment about his interest in playing with another team’s player.” https://t.co/6hEIyW3qBi
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2018
In other words, the Lakers aren’t telling James to say this, so it’s not coordination. But GMs are right about one thing: LeBron saying things like this does have an impact on the NBA landscape, a “typhoon” of reaction, as Woj said. It may not be coordinated, but small market teams are right to worry about what James saying about free agency does to the market.
