NBA investigating alleged tampering by Lakers over Paul George

The NBA announced Sunday it has opened an independent investigation of tampering charges brought forward by the Indiana Pacers against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The allegations reportedly pertain to improper contact between former Pacers star Paul George (now with the Oklahoma City Thunder) and Lakers team president Magic Johnson, according to Peter Vecsey and corroborated by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

The law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz will be conducting the investigation into the Pacers' charges. If found guilty, the Lakers could be fined both cash and future draft assets in addition to being subject to restrictive sanctions that would impact their ability to acquire George in the future.

"The Lakers have been cooperative and, at this point, no findings have been made," says a release from NBA executive vice president, communications Mike Bass. "We have asked both teams to refrain from commenting while the investigation is ongoing."

George has one year remaining on his current contract, after which the four-time All-Star will be able to decline his 2018-19 player option and become an unrestricted free agent. With little short-term opportunity to contend for a championship in Indiana, George earlier this summer reportedly informed the Pacers that he would leave the franchise.

Complicating matters, however, were murmurs that George had set his sights on joining the Los Angeles Lakers in summer 2018. Any team hoping to acquire the disgruntled star in a trade would be hard-pressed to re-sign the dynamic two-way wing. George's status as a one-year rental meant the package of assets that Indiana could demand via trade appeared to decrease dramatically.

George was ultimately traded to the Thunder on June 30 for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, a relatively meagre haul considering George's stature among the best young stars in the game today.