NBA Rumors: Pacers file tampering charges against the Lakers over Paul George, league investigating

The Indiana Pacers have filed tampering charges against the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA is looking into whether or not the latter organization had illegal contact with Paul George, according to Peter Vescey (who reported the news on his Patreon account).

“An independant law firm” is reportedly interviewing Lakers president Jeanie Buss general manager Rob Pelinka and president of basketball operations Magic Johnson, who have to turn over any correspondence they’ve had with George or his agent.

The Pacers have since dealt George to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but are likely still dissatisfied over the way the George trade market shook out when it became clearer with each report that George was ‘hell-bent” on ending up with the Lakers, thus decreasing Indiana’s ability to find leverage on the trade market for him.

Will the league have a case? Who knows, but this interview Johnson did with Jimmy Kimmel is probably a lot less funny for the Lakers now.

Here is how Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ explains the possible tampering outcomes:

Tampering is when a player or team directly or indirectly entices, induces or persuades anybody (player, general manager, etc.) who is under contract with another team in order to negotiate for their services. The NBA may impose suspensions and/or fines up to $50,000 if tampering is discovered.

Stay tuned to Silver Screen and Roll for more on this developing story.

Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen