Lakers Fined for Tampering After Magic Johnson's Giannis Antetokounmpo Remarks

[hodgy03038]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2758038-lakers-fined-for-tampering-after-magic-johnsons-giannis-antetokounmpo-remarks

Fined $50,000. Wow that's like what a 25 cent fine for a normal person?

[saltlover]

Magic is quickly learning that his gift for gab is not necessarily the best quality for an NBA executive.

[mqtcelticsfan]

At no point did he mention the Lakers. In fact, he talked about the Greek Freak's ability to bring a championship to Milwaukee, but he was effusive in his praise of the MVP candidate to Friedell:

Tampering rules are clearly dumb.

[footey]

At no point did he mention the Lakers. In fact, he talked about the Greek Freak's ability to bring a championship to Milwaukee, but he was effusive in his praise of the MVP candidate to Friedell:

Tampering rules are clearly dumb.

The moment he started to talk about GF, I felt it was cute tampering.  Telling GF how much he was like Magic, only better. The implication being that if you join the Lakers, I will teach you everything I know so that you will be as great and as famous as me.

Of course, I am extremely biased as a Celtic fan, which by nature makes me anti-Laker. Let's just say my radar was on full alert. Glad to see the NBA's was as well. Wish they would dock them a pick or two, but seems like they have none left!!

[manl_lui]

this feels so much different than the PG tampering charges, all he did was praise Giannis, at no point had he remotely mentioned the Lakers...

[jpotter33]

I honestly don’t see what’s wrong with this and how this might be considered “tampering” by Magic.

[Donoghus]

I honestly don’t see what’s wrong with this and how this might be considered “tampering” by Magic.

Yeah,  this one seems like a stretch by the league here. 

[tarheelsxxiii]

Eh, who cares.  With star players forcing trades to choice destinations, this stuff seems like small change.  I actually enjoy reading stories about Pat Riley's sleazy dealings.     

[gift]

Well, the rest of the league has to go out of their way not to mention players on other teams by name. I think that rule is a bit too strict, but it's appropriate to punish an infringement of that rule.

[Moranis]

That isn't tampering or every time a coach answers a question about the tough matchup in the game he is about to play, it is tampering.  I mean imagine a reporter asking Stevens about Lebron before the ECF last year, and Stevens says something fairly similar to what Magic said.  Are the Celtics going to get fined for tampering?  I mean that is just nonsense.

[Surferdad]

Magic is quickly learning that his gift for gab is not necessarily the best quality for an NBA executive.

TP.

The battlefield is strewn with former great players who became mediocre coaches, GMs or owners.  Other ones include the 1st Isaiah Thomas and Michael Jordan.

[GratefulCs]

That isn't tampering or every time a coach answers a question about the tough matchup in the game he is about to play, it is tampering.  I mean imagine a reporter asking Stevens about Lebron before the ECF last year, and Stevens says something fairly similar to what Magic said.  Are the Celtics going to get fined for tampering?  I mean that is just nonsense.

i think this has to do with his recent history of tampering with paul george

if he didn't already talk about getting PG then i don't think he'd be slapped with this fine

[gift]

That isn't tampering or every time a coach answers a question about the tough matchup in the game he is about to play, it is tampering.  I mean imagine a reporter asking Stevens about Lebron before the ECF last year, and Stevens says something fairly similar to what Magic said.  Are the Celtics going to get fined for tampering?  I mean that is just nonsense.

I'm not sure about the exact rules but I've heard guys like Ainge and Morey admit during interviews that they can't speak about a player specifically, so they change what they are saying a bit.

So there is a line somewhere and I'm not surprised that the League determined that Magic crossed it. They may be a little more strict because this is a "second offense" within a year too.

[SHAQATTACK]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2758038-lakers-fined-for-tampering-after-magic-johnsons-giannis-antetokounmpo-remarks

Fined $50,000. Wow that's like what a 25 cent fine for a normal person?

LOL ....yup .....pocket change

[footey]

That isn't tampering or every time a coach answers a question about the tough matchup in the game he is about to play, it is tampering.  I mean imagine a reporter asking Stevens about Lebron before the ECF last year, and Stevens says something fairly similar to what Magic said.  Are the Celtics going to get fined for tampering?  I mean that is just nonsense.

i think this has to do with his recent history of tampering with paul george

if he didn't already talk about getting PG then i don't think he'd be slapped with this fine

yes, Magic has a track record for tampering, and it just got a little longer.  Plus, this is not simply the case of a GM admiring another's team's player. He was comparing the player to himself, a basketball legend, with the implication that if he got his hands on him, he could groom him to be his successor.  That is why the league jumped on him, and rightfully so. To say Magic's comment is just like any other GM's praise is disingenuous.