LOS ANGELES _ After a brief investigation, the NBA has determined there was no improper communication between the Lakers and 76ers guard Ben Simmons, and that Magic Johnson's comments before Sunday's game between the two teams did not constitute tampering.
"The Philadelphia 76ers initiated the contact with the Los Angeles Lakers by requesting a meeting between Johnson and Simmons," the league's news release said Tuesday. "Both organizations ultimately concluded that such a meeting did not make sense at this time but in that context, Johnson's response to a media inquiry regarding Simmons does not run afoul of league rules."
The NBA's statement matches one the Lakers released on Monday afternoon, which said the 76ers had asked for the meeting in an email sent in November, and then Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka called 76ers general manager Elton Brand. The Lakers' statement said Pelinka told Brand he would need written permission from the 76ers in order for that meeting to proceed.
A person familiar with the meeting told The Times that Pelinka let Brand know he wasn't comfortable with the request, and that Brand declined to provide written permission.
The source also said the communication originally came from Allen Lumpkin, the 76ers director of basketball administration. Lumpkin's duties include player development.
Before Sunday's game, Johnson, the Lakers president of basketball operations, was asked if he enjoys watching Simmons play.
"Oh for sure, for sure," Johnson said. "He reached out to me, not to me directly, to the Lakers, to find out if we could get together this summer. I said, 'Hey, you'd have to clear it with the league. Everybody. The Sixers sign off. We sign off. The league signs off that nothing (inappropriate) is going on.
"He wants to know how to play the position as a big guard, da, da, da, da, da, da," Johnson said. "It's fine. I will do that. But if everybody doesn't sign off, then we can't get together."
Brand later was asked about the subject during a radio show. He said then that Pelinka called him requesting permission and he said no. The league's decision to investigate the communications came later that afternoon.
