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Report: NBA opens tampering probe into 76ers' deals with Harden, Tucker, House

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The NBA has opened a tampering investigation into the Philadelphia 76ers' dealings with free-agent signings James Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Danuel House, reports ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The league is expected to investigate Harden's decision to decline his $47-million option in favor of a two-year, $68.6-million deal that cut his annual salary by $12 million, according to Wojnarowski. It ultimately gave the team more flexibility to sign Tucker and House.

Philadelphia is cooperating with the league's probe, Wojnarowski adds. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey has answered questions from league attorneys, with the investigation expected to expand to interviews with members of the organization.

The 76ers will turn over electronic correspondence and phone records so league investigators can determine whether the organization was discussing contracts prior to the opening of free agency at 6 p.m. ET on June 30.

Philadelphia signed Tucker to a three-year, $33.2-million deal and House for two years and $8.5 million this offseason. Together with Harden, the trio played under Morey with the Houston Rockets from 2019-2021.

The league previously rescinded the Milwaukee Bucks' and Miami Heat's second-round picks in the 2022 draft for early free-agency discussions with Bodgan Bogdanovic in the 2020 offseason and Kyle Lowry in 2021, respectively. The Chicago Bulls will forfeit their next available second-round pick for early free-agency talks with Lonzo Ball last year.

The NBA has implemented new penalties for tampering, which include raising the maximum fine for teams to $10 million, potentially suspending team executives, and rescinding more draft picks.

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