NBA Tampering Discovered: Atlanta Hawks And Two Other Teams Fined Over Mentioning Free Agents Dwight Howard & Chris Paul

NBA tampering discovered today, when the NBA fined three teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, after an internal memo that was discovered exposing their NBA tampering.  

A source close to the Atlanta Hawks revealed the memo to USA Today, and when confronted with the NBA tampering discovered, the Atlanta Hawks released a statement:

"We fully understand and respect the NBA's decision," the Hawks said after their tampering with free agents was discovered by the league and the NBA tampering fines by the league were discovered by the media.

The memo that exposed the NBA tampering by the Hawks and two other teams outlined what transgressions had been deemed tampering. 

The memo says the NBA teams were fined because "The conduct at issue involved statements by a team employee to the media, a team email to prospective season ticket purchasers, and articles posted online on a team website, each related to players who are currently under contract to other teams but who will become free agents this summer." 

That line is considered NBA tampering and a recent letter by the Hawks mentioning free agents, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul as possible signees when they're still under contract with their old teams, crosses the line into NBA tampering territory.

Here is the Hawks letter, which was sent by email, that was deemed to be tampering by the NBA:

"The buzz around our offseason is more than heating up. With massive cap space, 4 draft picks, and free agency rapidly approaching, we sit in the best position in the NBA. Player interest is skyrocketing as the possibilities of landing Chris Paul & Dwight Howard become more and more of a reality. This is your opportunity to get on board before its [sic] too late. Once we solidify our signings there will be no seats left." 

As provided in the NBA's memo on tampering, the league rules stipulate tampering as:

"Article 35A of the NBA Constitution states that it's a violation of the league's anti-tampering rule for any person affiliated with an NBA team to directly or indirectly (i) entice, induce, or persuade, or attempt to entice, induce or persuade, any player, coach, GM or other person under contract to any other NBA team to enter into negotiations for or relating to that person's services or to negotiate or contract for such services, or (ii) otherwise interfere with the employment relationship between that employee and the other NBA team."

The Constitution for the NBA tampering discovered includes, according to the USA Today, "suspension of the offending person, prohibition of the offending team from hiring the person being tampered with, forfeiture of draft picks, and individual and/or team fines of up to $5 million."

This could mean the Atlanta Hawks will not be allowed to go after free agents, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. 

Since the Hawks have a ton of salary cap space, with Josh Smith possibly coming off their books this summer, they are in a unique position to be able to afford both--likely--maximum contract players players, Howard and Paul.

Siince Dwight Howard is originally from Atlanta, he was in the running to come to the Hawks, despite the ability of his current team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to offer him more money under the NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement.