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Early this month LeBron James caused a bit of a shitstorm when he answered a question from a reporter on whether he wanted Pelicans’ superstar Anthony Davis to join the Lakers.
Via ESPN
Ahead of Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans visiting the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season on Friday, LeBron James openly pondered what having the All-Star forward alongside him in purple and gold at Staples Center would be like.
“That would be amazing,” James told ESPN on Tuesday before the Lakers’ 115-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, referring to the Lakers landing Davis through a trade. “That would be amazing, like, duh. That would be incredible.”
Several GMs of small market GMs were angry that the league didn’t fine LeBron for tampering over his comments about Davis.
Via ESPN/
Several GMs told ESPN that they reached out to New Orleans Pelicans GM Dell Demps to express dismay over what they perceive as the NBA’s tacid endorsement of James’ comments to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin calling the possibility of Davis’ arrival as “amazing” and “incredible.”
“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.”
“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.’
Weeks after the LeBron-Anthony Davis fiasco the BVA sent a memo reminding teams about the league’s anti-tampering rules.
ESPN has obtained a memo that the NBA sent to teams today to "serve as a reminder of the league's anti-tampering rule." In letter, NBA says, "employment contracts are to be respected and conduct that interferes w/ contractual relationships is prohibited."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 28, 2018
Memo: "This principle is particularly important in today's media environment, where any actions or comments relating to potential player movement receive immediate and widespread public attention. Teams should be entitled to focus their efforts on the competition this season…" https://t.co/m1VVWmnCUX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 28, 2018
More NBA memo: "…with the players they have under contract, without having to divert attention or resources to conduct or speculation regarding the potential destinations of those players in future seasons once their contracts expire." Translated: Knock it off w/ Anthony Davis.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 28, 2018
This is obviously the NBA subtweeting LeBron through Woj but we’ll see how LeBron responds.