Published: Sunday, July 11, 2010
Some NBA owners accuse Heat of tampering
MIAMI — Rival team executives suspicious of the Miami Heat’s efforts to lure LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami will collectively have the commissioner’s ear Monday.
League owners are scheduled to meet in Las Vegas on Monday amid concerns there may have been collusion and tampering by the Heat on its way to landing the top three free agents on the market.
An executive in NBA commissioner David Stern’s office stressed Sunday that Monday’s meeting was scheduled in advance of free agency. It also was not specifically called to address any potential issues from what was the biggest offseason frenzy in league history.
Executives from at least five teams have privately accused the Heat of tampering with James. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Sunday details of an alleged November meeting in Miami with James, Heat president Pat Riley, James and the-Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.
James and the Cavs were in town to play the Heat on Nov. 12, and Jordan was in Miami for a Nike event to launch Wade’s Jordan Brand shoe. According to the Plain Dealer’s report, citing unnamed sources, the meeting did not involve a recruiting pitch to James, but rather a discussion about how Jordan’s legacy should be honored.
James later announced he would be changing his jersey number from 23 to 6. James surprised many in the league when he chose to leave the Cavs, which drafted the Akron, Ohio, native first overall in 2003, to sign with the Heat.
The Heat declined to comment on whether the team has been in contact with the league over tampering allegations. The Heat will be represented in Monday’s meeting by vice president Nick Arison, son of team owner Micky Arison.
But Heat executives believe they operated above board throughout the process and simply worked some advantages.
Miami had the most salary-cap space in the league, an inside tract to re-signing Wade and the added bonus of Wade’s longtime friendships with James and Bosh.
James, Bosh and Wade, all members of the 2003 draft class, have long discussed the possibility of joining forces on an NBA team. They all took less money than the maximum they could have received to sign with the Heat.
Tampering and collusion violations could result in the nullification of a player’s contract. But such allegations are generally difficult to prove. The futures of James, Wade and Bosh in Miami do not appear to be in jeopardy.
League owners are scheduled to meet in Las Vegas on Monday amid concerns there may have been collusion and tampering by the Heat on its way to landing the top three free agents on the market.
An executive in NBA commissioner David Stern’s office stressed Sunday that Monday’s meeting was scheduled in advance of free agency. It also was not specifically called to address any potential issues from what was the biggest offseason frenzy in league history.
Executives from at least five teams have privately accused the Heat of tampering with James. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Sunday details of an alleged November meeting in Miami with James, Heat president Pat Riley, James and the-Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.
James and the Cavs were in town to play the Heat on Nov. 12, and Jordan was in Miami for a Nike event to launch Wade’s Jordan Brand shoe. According to the Plain Dealer’s report, citing unnamed sources, the meeting did not involve a recruiting pitch to James, but rather a discussion about how Jordan’s legacy should be honored.
James later announced he would be changing his jersey number from 23 to 6. James surprised many in the league when he chose to leave the Cavs, which drafted the Akron, Ohio, native first overall in 2003, to sign with the Heat.
The Heat declined to comment on whether the team has been in contact with the league over tampering allegations. The Heat will be represented in Monday’s meeting by vice president Nick Arison, son of team owner Micky Arison.
But Heat executives believe they operated above board throughout the process and simply worked some advantages.
Miami had the most salary-cap space in the league, an inside tract to re-signing Wade and the added bonus of Wade’s longtime friendships with James and Bosh.
James, Bosh and Wade, all members of the 2003 draft class, have long discussed the possibility of joining forces on an NBA team. They all took less money than the maximum they could have received to sign with the Heat.
Tampering and collusion violations could result in the nullification of a player’s contract. But such allegations are generally difficult to prove. The futures of James, Wade and Bosh in Miami do not appear to be in jeopardy.
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