Some clouds over the start of the season for the Suns, who have just won on the Warriors floor. According to journalist Marc Steinthe Arizona franchise is under investigation regarding the signing of Drew Eubanksholder of a two-year contract at minimum wage.
The Suns would have had a “ early contact » with the former interior of the Blazers at the time of “free agency”, i.e. a potential “tampering”. The undrafted player, who started his career in San Antonio, was picked up by the Suns a few minutes after the market opened on July 1.
He was not the only one motivated to want to support the trio Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, since Keita Bates-Diop, Chimezie Metu and Yuta Watanabe had all signed in the same wagon of “role players”. So the Suns would have only had prior contact with Drew Eubanks and not the others?
What is the sanction for “tampering”?
A decision is expected soon. Offending teams are generally penalized with a second-round pick if they are found to be in violation.
The Sixers, for example, lost their second rounds of the Draft (2023 and 2024) due to the arrivals of PJ Tucker and Danuel House Jr, announced almost as soon as free agency opened. Recruitments directly linked to the “financial sacrifice” of James Harden during his contract extension at the time.
The Suns interior played his first minutes this season on the Suns floor. He compiled 4 points (1/3 on shots), 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists in 19 minutes.
Tampering : practice of illegally making contact or talking about a player under contract with another team before the free agency period. This can be direct contact, via an agent, or through the press, as Magic Johnson did in the past with Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Recently, the Sixers, Bulls and Heat were punished for “tampering.”
