The Associated Press New York ---- Atlanta Hawks owner Michael Gearon has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for comments made about LeBron James' possible free agency this summer. Gearon's comments, which appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on May 19, were a violation of the NBA's anti-tampering rules, as James is still under contract with the Cleveland...
The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks owner Michael Gearon has been fined $25,000 for comments made about LeBron James' possible free agency.New York ---- Atlanta Hawks owner Michael Gearon has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for comments made about LeBron James' possible free agency this summer.
Gearon's comments, which appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on May 19, were a violation of the NBA's anti-tampering rules, as James is still under contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"If somebody came to us tomorrow and said you can have LeBron for max money and it puts you in the luxury tax, I'd do it in a heartbeat," Gearon said. "But am I going to do that for (Cavs center Zydrunas) Ilgauskas? Am I going to do it for Jermaine O'Neal? I don't think so."
The Hawks recently completed a season in which they were swept out of the conference semifinals by the Orlando Magic. One of Atlanta's best players, Joe Johnson, is scheduled to hit the free agent market on July 1.