The NBA's probe into possible pre-free agency tampering centered on the sign-and-trade acquisitions of Chicago's Lonzo Ball and Miami's Kyle Lowry appears to have reached the advanced stages, sources told ESPN on Friday.
The NBA has conducted numerous interviews with team executives and player agents and have gathered electronic messaging of front office executives of four teams -- Chicago, New Orleans, Miami and Toronto -- over the past three months, sources said. The league could reveal its findings and any penalties in the near future.
ESPN reported on August 7 about the opening of the league's investigation into whether illegal contact and negotiation occurred among teams and agents ahead of the opening of free agency on August 2 at 6 p.