Damian Lillard admits to tampering in trade to Bucks
This NBA offseason, trade rumors circled around former Portland Trail Blazers superstar point guard Damian Lillard. But now, on a recent podcast, Lillard has practically admitted to tampering in his trade to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Before Lillard was traded to the Bucks, the Miami Heat were frontrunners to land the Portland point guard. It was practically a done deal until the Heat sent an offer for Lillard. But, in an all-time 180 turn, the Bucks would surprisingly swoop in to grab Lillard.
Now, this is where the tampering begins.
Former Trail Blazer and now Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton who was a teammate with Lillard during his time in Portland, started a group chat with Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and himself.
Pat Connaughton started a group chat with Giannis and Dame to recruit Dame to Milwaukee
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 20, 2023
Elite recruiter
( @PlayersTribune )
pic.twitter.com/nclPmHCP6h
“When he was here (Connaughton), he was like the middle man,” said Lillard. “We was in a group chat, all three of us.”
Antetokounmpo would then say (according to Lillard): “No, he needs to come to Milwaukee.”
Lillard would say it would become an ongoing conversation and actions with each other. “I see him at All-Star games, that was really it.”
According to the NBA CBA section 35A (e):  ”Any Player who, directly or indirectly, entices, induces, persuades or attempts to entice, induce, or persuade any Player, Coach, Trainer, General Manager or any other person who is under contract to any other Member of the Association to enter into negotiations for or relating to his services or negotiates or contracts for such services shall, on being charged with such tampering, be given an opportunity to answer such charges after due notice and the Commissioner shall have the power to decide whether or not the charges have been sustained; in the event his decision is that the charges have been sustained, then the Commissioner shall have the power to suspend such Player for a definite or indefinite period, or to impose a fine not exceeding $50,000, or inflict both such suspension and fine upon any such Player.“
Also under article 35A (f): “ No person may, directly or indirectly, (i) entice, induce, persuade, or attempt to entice, induce or persuade, any Player who is under contract to, or whose exclusive negotiating rights are held by, any other Member of the Association to enter into negotiations for or relating to his services or negotiate or contract for such services or (ii) otherwise interfere with any such employer-employee relationship (or prospective employer-employee relationship in the case of a Player subject to exclusive negotiating rights) of any other Member of the Association.“
I may not be an NBA CBA expert, I have read it, but I think starting a private group chat with a former teammate who is now on a different team during a trade request and convincing them to join that team is downright illegal. Seems pretty suspicious that a team that was the frontrunners for Lillard
Do you think the Bucks tampered with Lillard and stole him from the Miami Heat? Let us know in the comments below.
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