Lebron James recently complemented New Orleans Pelicans star player Anthony Davis and intimated that it would be incredible and special to be able tp play with the young star.
This comes right before they are set to match up against each other at the Staples Center tonight. Davis has long been speculated as preparing himself to exit New Orleans for greener pastures as they have not been able to consistently keep elite talent on team.
Davis recently hired agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports who is also Lebron’s agent and business partner. This has only increased the rumors surrounding Davis future as he is still two years away from free agency.
As per ESPN, there are reports that small market teams feel the NBA is enforcing the tampering rules with owners and front office personnel but turn a blind eye when players make tampering remarks.
Rival teams contend James’s public longing for players under contract has created a tsunami of reaction, coverage and consequences that can be seen as designed to destabilize an opposition organization working to retain its star player.
The report discloses small market teams concern that the recent comments by Lebron constitute as tampering as Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers was fined twice for a total of $500,00 for mentioning players under contract prior to last summer’s free agency when he mentioned Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo as great players the Lakers would love to have.
“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.”
Small markets teams have a hard time attracting free agents to their smaller cities and now feel alienated by the NBA when they let marquee such as Lebron make comments about players they’d love to play with which could create a bad precedent for their future of their franchise if players under contract are allowed to openly be recruited by their peers. The NBA has resisted this notion and Commissioner Silver has said they promote player movement regardless of market size
Commissioner Adam Silver has vehemently pushed back on that notion in the past, but most top team executives are convinced that the NBA’s predisposed to craving the drama and storylines created in these circumstances, placing far more value on the potential financial benefits of fan interest and stars in big markets than it does the maintaining of a fair, competitive environment.
This is a fair concern but it’s hard to see the NBA fine Lebron for his comments.