Small market GMs highly upset about Lebron tampering to get Anthony Davis

[CelticsElite]

Several small market general managers have privately expressed outrage over what they believe is the NBA's unwillingness to enforce tampering rules following comments of LeBron James publicly endorsing the pursuit of Anthony Davis.

Several GMs reached out to Dell Demps of the Pelicans to express dismay over James' comments.

"It's New Orleans' problem today, and a problem with a different player tomorrow for the rest of us," one Eastern Conference GM told ESPN. "It's open season on small markets and our players."

The NBA bylaws governing players state: "Any Player who, directly or indirectly, entices, induces, persuades or attempts to entice, induce or persuade any Player, Coach, Trainer, General Manager, or any other person who is under contract to any other Member of the Association to enter into negotiations for or relating to his services shall, on being charged with such tampering, should be given an opportunity to answer to such charges after due notice and the Commissioner shall have the power to decide whether or not the charges have been sustained ..."

"If these are the rules, enforce them," one Western Conference GM told ESPN. "If you want to push Anthony Davis in L.A., if you allow LeBron to interfere with teams, then just do it. Change the rules, and say, 'It's the wild, wild west and anything goes.'

An NBA spokesman told ESPN on Friday: "Each case is assessed on its own facts. In general, absent evidence of team coordination or other aggravating factors, it is not tampering when a player makes a comment about his interest in playing with another team's player."

Some believe the NBA is predisposed for craving the drama and storylines of free agency and trades.

"There is no confidence among most of us -- if not all of us -- that the league cares about protecting our interests," one small-market GM told ESPN. "It's hard enough already to hold onto the kind of players we need to try and win with -- but [the league] doesn't do anything to help."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25587459/small-market-gms-upset-lebron-james-pitch-anthony-davis

[GreenEnvy]

Honestly, I think this is a problem that only exists in the NBA.

Yes, this is the only league where a single player has the utmost impact, but the CBA really does limited justices for the teams with power. Kyrie could have extended already in any other league except the NBA. They attempt to cater to the drafting team, but rarely if ever does it work. Instead it creates doubt and issues like the one surrounding AD.

Something such as the Rose rule and Bird rights may be something we are accustomed to, but foreign to any other league.

[Celtics4ever]

I think Kyrie, LeBron and Giannis should all be fined for their comments.   

[timpiker]

I agree with "small market teams".  This is bullEdited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline..  Fine their asses significant money !!!

[PhoSita]

It'd be silly and disingenuous for any player to decline to endorse the notion that they'd like it if their team had Anthony Davis on it.

The players talking behind the scenes, well, that may be an issue but there's no way to stop it.

AD is going to end up on a big market team eventually. The pelicans could have maybe prevented that if they'd done a better job utilizing their draft assets to put players around him.

[KGs Knee]

No sympathy for these whiny small market GM's. If you want to keep your players, do better.

I will always side with the players being able to talk to each other, and if they so choose, team up with whatever other players they want. It's their career, their livelihood, they can do as they please.

The NBA is exactly right here:

An NBA spokesman told ESPN on Friday: "Each case is assessed on its own facts. In general, absent evidence of team coordination or other aggravating factors, it is not tampering when a player makes a comment about his interest in playing with another team's player."

[Birdman]

went out to eat after game also

[Ogaju]

No sympathy for these whiny small market GM's. If you want to keep your players, do better.

I will always side with the players being able to talk to each other, and if they so choose, team up with whatever other players they want. It's their career, their livelihood, they can do as they please.

The NBA is exactly right here:

An NBA spokesman told ESPN on Friday: "Each case is assessed on its own facts. In general, absent evidence of team coordination or other aggravating factors, it is not tampering when a player makes a comment about his interest in playing with another team's player."

Why have the rule, then? LeBron endorsed the Lakers pursuing AD. That is a direct violation of the rule. You don't want the rule then remove it. Do not leave it where is can be selectively used against target teams or players.

[Moranis]

No sympathy for these whiny small market GM's. If you want to keep your players, do better.

I will always side with the players being able to talk to each other, and if they so choose, team up with whatever other players they want. It's their career, their livelihood, they can do as they please.

The NBA is exactly right here:

An NBA spokesman told ESPN on Friday: "Each case is assessed on its own facts. In general, absent evidence of team coordination or other aggravating factors, it is not tampering when a player makes a comment about his interest in playing with another team's player."

Why have the rule, then? LeBron endorsed the Lakers pursuing AD. That is a direct violation of the rule. You don't want the rule then remove it. Do not leave it where is can be selectively used against target teams or players.

They have a rule, but it doesn't prohibit players from talking about players on other teams. 

[Ogaju]

No sympathy for these whiny small market GM's. If you want to keep your players, do better.

I will always side with the players being able to talk to each other, and if they so choose, team up with whatever other players they want. It's their career, their livelihood, they can do as they please.

The NBA is exactly right here:

An NBA spokesman told ESPN on Friday: "Each case is assessed on its own facts. In general, absent evidence of team coordination or other aggravating factors, it is not tampering when a player makes a comment about his interest in playing with another team's player."

Why have the rule, then? LeBron endorsed the Lakers pursuing AD. That is a direct violation of the rule. You don't want the rule then remove it. Do not leave it where is can be selectively used against target teams or players.

They have a rule, but it doesn't prohibit players from talking about players on other teams.

I have heard and believed that for a long time, but that is not what the rule that was cited in the OP states. The rule in the OP applies to players.

[Moranis]

No sympathy for these whiny small market GM's. If you want to keep your players, do better.

I will always side with the players being able to talk to each other, and if they so choose, team up with whatever other players they want. It's their career, their livelihood, they can do as they please.

The NBA is exactly right here:

An NBA spokesman told ESPN on Friday: "Each case is assessed on its own facts. In general, absent evidence of team coordination or other aggravating factors, it is not tampering when a player makes a comment about his interest in playing with another team's player."

Why have the rule, then? LeBron endorsed the Lakers pursuing AD. That is a direct violation of the rule. You don't want the rule then remove it. Do not leave it where is can be selectively used against target teams or players.

They have a rule, but it doesn't prohibit players from talking about players on other teams.

I have heard and believed that for a long time, but that is not what the rule that was cited in the OP states. The rule in the OP applies to players.

No, talking about players is not the same thing as enticing, inducing, or persuading.  Saying playing with another player would be amazing does not violate that rule.

[jambr380]

Figured this would be the best place to put this, although there are a couple of other AD/Lakers threads:

https://sports.yahoo.com/kevin-garnett-told-anthony-davis-straight-needs-go-play-lebron-james-040928936.html

“I told Anthony Davis this to his face,” Kevin Garnett told USA Today. “‘You are not playing against the guys you are squaring up against every night. You are playing against history, man.’

“Anthony Davis playing in New Orleans, I don’t want to say they are wasted days, but they are non-days. He needs to be somewhere where he can be with another guy and they can have a run at a championship. He has been in New Orleans long enough. It is time for a change now. This is it. No better time to do this.”

“When Anthony Davis suits up for the Pelicans, that’s the best the Pelicans are going to be right there,” Garnett told USA Today. “They are capped out. They are playing at the top of the level they can play at. Davis with LeBron James — he goes to another level and that’s scary.

“That’s why he needs to go to a team where he has a chance to hoist the trophy or at least have a chance at going in that direction. He doesn’t have that. Great players need to be with other great players. He is still ‘the guy’ when LeBron is there. They are both ‘the guy.’ That’s why you bring your superpowers together.”

Ummm, thanks KG, but I guess there are some good things there about convincing AD to ask out of NO. I guess since AD isn't a FA, he doesn't have much of a decision where he goes since he isn't a FA, but our beloved KG telling him him that he should go play with Lebron is like heresy for Cs fans. Hopefully, if the Cs do in fact trade for AD this off-season, the Lakers will spend all of their future money on other 'stars'. Going to the Finals in Boston will have to help, too 

[IDreamCeltics]

That's why these guys are small market GM's and the king is the king.

SMH.  No time for small-ballers.

[Surferdad]

No sympathy for these whiny small market GM's. If you want to keep your players, do better.

I will always side with the players being able to talk to each other, and if they so choose, team up with whatever other players they want. It's their career, their livelihood, they can do as they please.

The NBA is exactly right here:

An NBA spokesman told ESPN on Friday: "Each case is assessed on its own facts. In general, absent evidence of team coordination or other aggravating factors, it is not tampering when a player makes a comment about his interest in playing with another team's player."

This notion has always bothered me and, though it sounds like freedom, is actually unfair to most players.  What players are we talking about here that have this freedom?  Superstars, that's it.  They are the ones who have the leverage to switch teams, recruit players to join them, etc.  In effect, it's the "haves" and "have-nots" and the have-nots represent about 95% of the league.

[SHAQATTACK]

He has for past 10 years or so refused to play by normal rules in any organizational structure. 

He and Magic willdo anything it takes to win