Report: NBA League Office Looking Into Possible Ben Simmons and Lakers Contact
I thought this story was dead when Elton Brand more or less squashed it a few hours ago, but then this popped up from Adrian Wojnarowski:
NBA spokesman Mike Bass tells ESPN: “The league office is looking into whether any contact took place between Ben Simmons and the Los Angeles Lakers that violated NBA rules.”
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 11, 2019
To rewind, Magic Johnson told reporters in Philly yesterday that Ben Simmons had expressed interest in working with him at some point in the summer. MJ, a Hall of Famer, also happens to be a Los Angeles Lakers executive, which would make the whole thing shady, tamper-ish, and collusion-esque.
Elton Brand responded today by saying that he was asked to authorize a future meeting, but said no.
He also spoke with Woj, after the jump:
Elton Brand tells ESPN: "No issue. I have a great relationship with Ben and Rich (Paul) and we expect him to be a Sixer for a long time. He has taken interest in chatting with some of the game's all-time greats and we're supportive. I had brief dialogue with Rob Pelinka…."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 11, 2019
More Brand on Lakers/Simmons: "…who I've known for a long time, but nothing is planned. Our collective focus is on making a postseason push. Again, we're not seating this, end of story."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 11, 2019
Woj went on to correct the typo in that third tweet, which should say, “we’re not sweating this, end of story.”
And they shouldn’t sweat it, because while it was a story this morning, it now seems like a nothing burger.
