NBA opens investigations into Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry signing and trade deals, sources say

The NBA has opened investigations into possible forgery violations involving two free agency signing and swapping deals, Chicago’s acquisition of Lonzo Ball of New Orleans and Miami’s acquisition of Kyle Lowry from Toronto, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

The NBA investigation will examine illegal contact between teams and players before free agency opens at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, sources told ESPN. Team officials, player agents and players have been notified of the opening of the league office’s investigations, sources said.

The NBA instituted tougher penalties in these cases in 2019, including increasing the maximum fine for teams to $ 10 million and the ability to suspend team leaders, forgo draft picks and even to cancel contracts. Team leaders can also have their communications, such as phone records, text messages and emails, checked at random.

Signing and swapping deals are more complicated and take longer than typical signings from independent players, often requiring a greater level of discussion and negotiation.

New Orleans agreed to trade Restricted Free Agent Ball to Chicago on a four-year, $ 85 million contract for Garrett Temple on a new three-year $ 15.5 million contract and goaltender Tomas Satoransky. This deal has yet to be finalized with the league office and may be different in its final form, sources said.

Miami negotiated a three-year, $ 85 million deal with Lowry as part of the signing and trade that sent goaltender Goran Dragic and forward Precious Achiuwa to the Raptors. The Heat secured Dragic’s $ 19.4 million team option on Sunday, which allowed them to use it in the signing and trade deal.

The Milwaukee Bucks lost a second-round pick in 2022 for tampering with Sacramento Kings restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic in 2021. With the penalty, the NBA took into consideration that the Bucks ultimately failed. not signed Bogdanovic – the Atlanta Hawks did.