By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls will forfeit their next available second-round draft picks due to early free agency discussions, NBA announced Wednesday.
In August, the league had launched investigations regarding the aforementioned teams acquiring Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball, respectively. The findings after the multiple interviews with involved team officials and players agents determined the penalties.
Both players were moved via sign-and-trade deals that were rumored weeks ahead and also reported immediately after the 2021 free agency started on August 2, despite expected complications on deals involving over one active player.
According to tampering rules, the NBA was able to impose fines of up to $10 million or suspend team executives.
Per the press release: “The NBA announced today that the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat each violated league rules governing the timing of this season’s free agency discussions and that the league has directed that each team’s next available second-round draft pick be forfeited.
These determinations followed investigations into free agency discussions engaged in by the Bulls with respect to Lonzo Ball and by the Heat with respect to Kyle Lowry.”
Ball, 24, shifted to Chicago from the New Orleans Pelicans for Czech Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple, a 2024 second-round draft pick, and cash considerations. The former UCLA standout reportedly inked a four-year $85M contract.
Lowry, 35, joined the Heat from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Slovenian Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa. The experienced point guard reportedly penned a three-year $85M contract.
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