Loose Lips: NBA Getting Serious About Free Agency Rules

NBA execs are threatening to fine teams $1M if they "break a league rule limiting the number of employees who can talk about free agents," according to Scott Soshnick of BLOOMBERG NEWS. NBA rules require teams to designate two execs who can "initiate talks and negotiate with free agents," and they are the only execs "allowed to make public statements about the players." Soshnick added no team or exec has been fined yet, but the league is "concerned about possible violations because of the fierce competition for free agents" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/20). One unnamed agent, complaining about the lack of movement in NBA free agency: "At least in baseball, they have some flexibility. I hope the players are happy with this" (ESPN.com, 7/21).