The NBA fined the Clippers on Tuesday $25,000 for violating anti-circumvention rules during their pursuit to retain DeAndre Jordan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
It turns out the Dallas Mavericks are not the only party that became unhappy with the DeAndre Jordan free agency sweepstakes.
The NBA announced on Tuesday that it fined the Clippers $250,000 for violating rules that prohibit teams from offering players unauthorized business or investment opportunities. The league alleged that the Clippers’ presentation to Jordan on July 2 included a potential third-party endorsement opportunity.
The NBA determined in its investigation that this aspect of the Clippers’ presentation had no impact on Jordan’s decision to re-sign with the Clippers. But that did not stop the NBA from issuing a fine. The NBA’s anti-circumvention rules prohibits teams from providing any compensation for a player unless it is included in the player’s contract.
The specifics regarding the Clippers’ third-party endorsement opportunity isn’t entirely clear. But an NBA source familiar with the teams said the Clippers presented a “hypothetical deal” that was nearly worth the amount of the league’s $250,000. Since then, the NBA source said Jordan did not take advantage of any possible endorsement opportunity.
Jordan had initially given the Mavericks a verbal commitment to sign with them. But he changed his mind a few days before the NBA moratorium lifted, giving Jordan the legal right to reconsider his options. That then spurred the Clippers to arrange a last-minute meeting at Jordan’s residence in Houston the day before the NBA moratorium ended on July 9, which marked the first day free agents can sign a contract with a team.
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