Heat and Bulls docked draft picks for Lowry and Lonzo

[Celtics2021]

Hadn't seen this posted, but the Bulls and Heat have each lost a future 2nd rounder for negotiating the Ball and Lowry deals in advance of the start of free agency.  Not a huge penalty, but with the Bucks having been similarly penalized for the attempted Bogdanovich deal last year, it's nice to see the NBA enforcing their rules a bit more.

https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1466090412578422787

[todd_days_41]

Totally worth it for the penalized teams. They need to dock ‘em first rounders for the league to care.

[Roy H.]

Tap on the wrist.  How many

[Birdman]

First round picks should be, not 2nds

[Roy H.]

First round picks should be, not 2nds

And give them the $10 million fine that is authorized.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Dumb penalty.

[wdleehi]

First round picks should be, not 2nds

That would hurt two drafted players no longer getting 1st round guaranteed money.

Maybe if they gave those first round picks to the teams that lost the players instead.  (make them the last two picks in the 1st round)

[todd_days_41]

First round picks should be, not 2nds

That would hurt two drafted players no longer getting 1st round guaranteed money.

Maybe if they gave those first round picks to the teams that lost the players instead.  (make them the last two picks in the 1st round)

Sure. Or move all teams below the picks up one on the order, then allocate the bottom two 1sts to the teams with the worst records (or lottery them).

[Wretch]

They should penalize the teams by taking salary cap away from the teams rather than take picks that are unlikely to ever yield an NBA player.

[Who]

A 2nd round pick for landing Lonzo or Lowry = well worth it.

Punishment is too weak. Won't stop behavior. Getting the player is far more valuable than the loss of a 2nd round pick. Punishment needs to be stronger to stop this.

[footey]

That light a penalty won't dissuade teams from cheating again.  Ridiculous.

[Moranis]

I have a hard time with penalizing teams when they work out a sign and trade with the player's current team. 

[Wretch]

I have a hard time with penalizing teams when they work out a sign and trade with the player's current team.

I don't think the penalty is just about the 2 teams directly involved.  It's also about the other teams in the league that didn't get the opportunity to negotiate with the players because they were nominally playing by the rules versus actively flouting them.

[Moranis]

I have a hard time with penalizing teams when they work out a sign and trade with the player's current team.

I don't think the penalty is just about the 2 teams directly involved.  It's also about the other teams in the league that didn't get the opportunity to negotiate with the players because they were nominally playing by the rules versus actively flouting them.

Nobody plays by the rules though

[Celtics2021]

I have a hard time with penalizing teams when they work out a sign and trade with the player's current team.

I don't think the penalty is just about the 2 teams directly involved.  It's also about the other teams in the league that didn't get the opportunity to negotiate with the players because they were nominally playing by the rules versus actively flouting them.

Nobody plays by the rules though

Probably some do.  Teams complained to the league about these deals — presumably they were playing by the rules for these players.