Raptors fined for violating tampering rules

[sed522002]

Per Marc Stein twitter:

Hearing Raptors fined $25,000 for comments Drake made at a concert about Kevin Durant that were seen as violation of anti-tampering rules

Here's link to at actual violation http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11338909/toronto-raptors-fined-25000-drake-concert-comments

"I just want to show one of my brothers something," Drake announced to the crowd. "You know, my brother Kevin Durant was kind enough to come to the show tonight and watch us. I just want him to see what would happen if he came to play in Toronto. Let him know what would happen."

The Oklahoma City Thunder star and reigning NBA MVP then received an ovation from the crowd, which reportedly launched into a "KD" chant.

[Lucky17]

Per Marc Stein twitter:

Hearing Raptors fined $25,000 for comments Drake made at a concert about Kevin Durant that were seen as violation of anti-tampering rules

I imagine the Celtics will be fined $50K the next time Donny Wahlberg does a guest broadcast stint and talks about how he'd like to see Durant in Celtic green.

[D.o.s.]

Breaking: Drake's New Single a two-part epic About An NBA That Doesn't Text Him Back, and His Hurt Feelings.

[KGs Knee]

I'll have a hard time seeing a fine stick. Does Drake have any direct ties to the Raptors?

Or are teams now responsible for comments made by fans? Or just 'famous' fans? Seems a bit ridiculous.

[Donoghus]

So if you're a "global ambassador", a job which I imagine is nothing more than title, then you're considered an employee and susceptible to tampering rules?

[saltlover]

I'll have a hard time seeing a fine stick. Does Drake have any direct ties to the Raptors?

Or are teams now responsible for comments made by fans? Or just 'famous' fans? Seems a bit ridiculous.

It does seem ridiculous, but maybe the Raptors have some sort of marketing agreement with Drake?  If he has some sort of official connection to the Raptors, this relatively small fine seems justifiable.

I think Silver's trying as hard as he can to not have the next two seasons be dominated by Durant's 2016 free agency.  This is definitely an unintended consequence of the owners' desires to severely limit contract length and extensions - now every star is always a pending free agent.

[mgent]

So if you're a "global ambassador", a job which I imagine is nothing more than title, then you're considered an employee and susceptible to tampering rules?

I assume they're paying him so I don't see why he wouldn't be considered an employee.  My guess is he probably had to sign a contract at one point, which apparently included tampering.

[Donoghus]

So if you're a "global ambassador", a job which I imagine is nothing more than title, then you're considered an employee and susceptible to tampering rules?

I assume they're paying him so I don't see why he wouldn't be considered an employee.  My guess is he probably had to sign a contract at one point, which apparently included tampering.

I had to look it up.  He actually gets a staff & an office for that puppet role.  So I guess he would be an employee then.

On September 30, 2013, Drake was announced as the new “global ambassador” for the Toronto Raptors, thereby joining the executive committee of his hometown’s National Basketball Association (NBA) team. In this role, he will help promote and serve as a host of festivities for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, to be held in Toronto, as well as provide consulting services to rebrand the team and redesign its image and clothing line, in honour of its upcoming 20th anniversary, in the 2014–15 season.] The job includes his own staff, located in an office next to that of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke. In announcing the position, Drake noted that, “obviously, I won’t b able to be in the building every day but I am extremely dedicated to it…I do take it very seriously as a new job and a new chapter in my life.”

[mgent]

Haha, he probably just wanted to create a larger variety of Raptor hats that fit his style for when he goes to games.

[Snakehead]

I see him hanging around any team that happens to be winning, he must be great at his job.

[D.o.s.]

via deadspin's comments:

"STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE CANT NAME DROP NBA PLAYERS BECAUSE WE THE OFFICIAL TEAM BRAND AMBASSADOR"

 

[manl_lui]

who wants to play for Canada 

[pearljammer10]

This gets a fine for tampering but everything surrounding Kevin Love, including coming to a contract agreement behind the scenes, gets nothing... Awesome NBA.

[KGs Knee]

So if you're a "global ambassador", a job which I imagine is nothing more than title, then you're considered an employee and susceptible to tampering rules?

I assume they're paying him so I don't see why he wouldn't be considered an employee.  My guess is he probably had to sign a contract at one point, which apparently included tampering.

I had to look it up.  He actually gets a staff & an office for that puppet role.  So I guess he would be an employee then.

On September 30, 2013, Drake was announced as the new “global ambassador” for the Toronto Raptors, thereby joining the executive committee of his hometown’s National Basketball Association (NBA) team. In this role, he will help promote and serve as a host of festivities for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, to be held in Toronto, as well as provide consulting services to rebrand the team and redesign its image and clothing line, in honour of its upcoming 20th anniversary, in the 2014–15 season.] The job includes his own staff, located in an office next to that of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke. In announcing the position, Drake noted that, “obviously, I won’t b able to be in the building every day but I am extremely dedicated to it…I do take it very seriously as a new job and a new chapter in my life.”

Well, then I guess that makes it clear, Drake is actually an official employee of the team, thus making the team responsible for his comments.

Not too smart on his behalf, was he not made aware public comments like these are against the rules?

[KGs Knee]

This gets a fine for tampering but everything surrounding Kevin Love, including coming to a contract agreement behind the scenes, gets nothing... Awesome NBA.

Generally speaking, so long as no public comments are directly made by anyone who is a direct employee of the team, nor is there any actual written agreements or electronic transmissions which can be directly attributed to such individuals, there is nothing the NBA can do.

None of this, to my knowledge, has happened in the Kevin Love situation.  It's merely media speculation.  The NBA has no control over that.