Lakers fined $500K for tampering with Paul George

The Los Angeles Lakers have been fined $500,000 for violating the NBA's anti-tampering rule, the league announced Thursday.

The fine stems from Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka communicating with Paul George's agent and expressing interest in him while under contract with another team.

The Lakers were previously warned about tampering after an April 20 appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" by president of basketball operations Magic Johnson when he made comments about George.

The league's investigation, however, didn't reveal any evidence of an agreement between the Lakers and George about the All-Star forward heading to Los Angeles either through a trade or free agency.

The NBA's rule on tampering "prohibits teams from interfering with other teams' contractual obligations with players, including by publicly expressing interest in a player who is currently under contract with another team, or informing the agent of another team's player of interest by one's own team in that player."

The law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz was behind the investigation.

Later Thursday, the Lakers released a prepared statement. "We respect and accept the NBA's decision regarding this matter," it quoted Pelinka. "On behalf of the Los Angeles Lakers, I want to express our regret over this unfortunate incident to both our fans and the NBA."

George can hit unrestricted free agency next summer by declining his player option. He's a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder after being traded by the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.