With plenty of intrigue over how LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh handled their free agency, some owners are upset about potential collusion and tampering.
UPDATED: 10:55 p.m.
"We really do have to re-evaluate the issue of player tampering," Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Sunday in the wake of LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwyane Wade in Miami. "Who knows what will happen? But I have to suggest it to them because there has to be more definitive rules."LAS VEGAS — When the NBA owners hold their annual summer meeting at a casino on Monday, they are expected to review potential player tampering stemming from the Miami Heat’s signing of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
And it won’t be the Cavaliers, who lost James, or the Toronto Raptors, who lost Bosh, that may be asking for an examination and changes.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told reporters at the Vegas Summer League that he intends to ask the league’s Board of Governors to take a look what transpired. The three star friends came together perhaps to arrange going to the same team before the free agency period officially began.
“I’m going to bring it up to the league that we really do have to re-evaluate the issue of player tampering,” Cuban said. “Who knows what will happen? But I have to suggest it to them because there has to be more definitive rules.”
There has been speculation that James, Wade and Bosh may have gone astray of some rules when they had a so-called “free agent summit.” The three had a meeting at James’ Bath home on June 19, according to sources, perhaps setting up plans to eventually play sign together with the Heat. At the time of the meeting, Wade was still under contract with the Heat, James with the Cavs and Bosh with the Raptors.
Free agent recruiting and negotiating, by players, team officials or agents, is not permitted until July 1.
NBA Commissioner David Stern, who will likely address the topic in a press conference following the meeting, told ESPN.com on Sunday that the league would investigate a tampering charge if it was filed by one of its teams.
A team source said the Cavs had not made any decisions whether to file any charges. However, the team most likely will not make such a complaint.
In addition to trying to set the tone they are moving on from losing James, the Cavs gave up their right to take issue when they agreed to a sign-and-trade deal to send James to Miami. The compensation was four draft picks over the next five years. The Raptors also completed a sign-and-trade with the Heat, receiving draft picks.
It is possible that Cuban, who was hoping to recruit all three of the players separately but was unable to even get a meeting with James, will file his own charge. But with the deals already done, it is unlikely the NBA will take immediate action.
There may be a resolution to make adjustments to strengthen the tampering rules while players are under contract in the next collective bargaining agreement. Stern is expected to take some questions on the matter at a press conference after the meeting.
The league has plenty of larger topics on its plate, especially with the current union contract up in a year and many economic matters threatening to cause a lockout next summer. However, there is no question what the most pressing topic will be after the Heat’s big moves last week.
“It’s not just the Cavs,” Cuban said. “It could be any team. It could be the Heat in a couple years. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. But there has to be a way to keep these guys away from each other for the last week anyway.”
Jesse Jackson slams Gilbert: In a statement Sunday, Rev. Jesse Jackson compared Cavs owner Dan Gilbert to a slave master for his open letter to Cavs fans following James' free-agency departure.
"He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave," Jackson said in the statement.
"LeBron is not a child, nor is he bound to play on Gilbert's plantation and be demeaned. He has been a model citizen and has inspired the children of Akron, Cleveland, the State of Ohio and the United States."
James responded to Gilbert's strongly-worded letter for the first time Sunday in an interview on ESPN.
"I think it's unfortunate that he did that," James said. "I understand that the fans are hurt and I wish it could have been a different way. But Dan and whoever his partners are have to look themselves in the mirror and understand what he may have done may have cost them in the long run."
Ilgauskas has options: Herb Rudoy, the agent for Zydrunas Ilgauskas, told The Plain Dealer that the Cavs' all-time games-played leader has been in contact with six teams. The Heat are among the franchises interested in Ilgauskas, who would likely be in line to receive the veteran's minimum of $1.3 million.
At the end of the season, Ilgauskas said he definitely wanted to continue his career and remains interested in returning to the Cavs.
Summer league roster set: The Cavs released their summer league roster Sunday. Roster players J.J. Hickson and Danny Green will play as will 2009 first-round pick Christian Eyenga. The non-roster invitees include former NBA players Rashad McCants, Maciej Lampe, Nathan Jawai and Jared Reiner. Rookie and former University of Michigan star Manny Harris is also on the roster.
The team will play five games at UNLV starting Tuesday at 6 p.m. All games will be broadcast on NBA TV.