Prior to the hectic free agency period began in the summer of 2019, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers found himself in a bit of trouble with the league.
He was fined for tampering after saying Kawhi Leonard resembled Michael Jordan while the former was still playing for the Toronto Raptors. Rivers’ comments were innocent enough, but violated the NBA’s rules and it was known the Clippers would be one of Leonard’s most aggressive suitors.
The L.A. Lakers especially had a right to be angry, as they had been fined for tampering on multiple occasions during Magic Johnson’s tenure as president of basketball operations.