Mark Cuban was fined $100,000 by the NBA for his comments about another team’s player — LeBron James.
He talked about how he wants LeBron James to force a sign-and-trade with whateve team he signs with so the Mavericks will actually have a chance at getting LeBron. He said this in an CNNmoney.com interview.
“Come July 1st, yeah, of course, anybody would be interested in LeBron James,” Cuban said in the interview. “And if he leaves via free agency, then it’s going to be tough. If he does like I’m guessing, hoping he will, which is say, ‘I’m not going to leave the Cavs high and dry,’ if he decides to leave — there’s still a better chance he stays — then he’ll try to force a sign-and-trade and that gives us a chance.”
The maximum penalty for this “crime” would’ve been a fine of $5,000,000 and the exclusion to pursue LeBron James in the offseason. Since they didn’t do any talking or anything directly with LeBron James or his agent, there would be no need for that heavy of a punishment.
Steve Kerr of the Phoenix Suns also was fined for comments he made about LeBron James. Kerr was fined $10,000.
Kerr joked that he would like to sign James for the mid-level exception, “About five-and-half million, I think he’ll take it. Don’t you think?” Kerr said. Kerr was then asked where he thought James would end up next season. Kerr said, “I have no idea. I want him to stay in Cleveland. I think that’s good for sports when you’ve got players you connect to over a long period of time, so I hope he stays.”
The thing that I have a problem with, is that the radio show was asking an executive for the team these types of questions. Shouldn’t this radio show know what types of punishments the players/coaches can receive if they are caught talking about possible free agents?
Related posts:
- Player Hating : LeBron James Edition
- LeBron one of just 10 back-to-back MVP award winners
- Carmelo Anthony: “I need some help. I can’t do this by myself.”