NBA investigating Kyle Lowry, Lonzo Ball deals for possible tampering

The NBA is investigating possible tampering violations from the sign-and-trade deals involving Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

The investigation will examine contact between the involved parties before the opening of free agency on Aug. 2. 

Lowry was sent to the Miami Heat from the Toronto Raptors earlier this week in a sign-and-trade agreement. He agreed to a three-year, $85 million deal. Ball, meanwhile, left the New Orleans Pelicans for the Chicago Bulls in a similar deal that saw him sign a four-year, $85 million contract. 

The NBA's anti-tampering rules prohibit teams, players and coaches from approaching players on rival teams while contractually bound to their respective clubs.

The league raised the fine for a team found guilty of tampering to $10 million two years ago. Executives from guilty clubs can also be suspended, draft picks can be voided and contracts can be nullified. 

A recent example of penalties a tampering investigation can produce was the Milwaukee Bucks' pursuit of Bogdan Bogdanovic. The NBA stripped the Bucks of a 2022 second-round pick after finding they made premature contract with Bogdanovic while negotiating a sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings that eventually fell apart. 

Miami has officially announced the Lowry signing, but Chicago has yet to make the Ball deal official.