The Lakers' unsuccessful pursuit of Paul George will cost them $500,000.
That was the fine levied by the NBA on Thursday for improper contact with George's agent by Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka after the team already had been warned about Magic Johnson's comments about George during an April TV appearance.
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Johnson joked with late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel about potentially running into the then-Pacers star and luring him to the Lakers, after Kimmel had raised the topic of the NBA's anti-tampering rules.
At some point after that, new Lakers GM Pelinka had communication with George's agent Aaron Mintz "that constituted a prohibited expression of interest in the player while he was under contract," the NBA release said.
George, who has two years remaining on his contract, eventually was traded to the Thunder.
