The NBA’s ongoing investigation about the possible pre-free agency tampering around the acquisition of Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball seems to be in an advanced stage. 

Reported by ESPN, the league has executed some interviews and studies with team executives and player agents, wherein it gathered the electronic conversations of the front office of four involved teams — the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, and New Orleans Pelicans. With that, the league may finally reveal its official announcement about the issue in the foreseeable future. 

Way back on August 7, the NBA declared that it will start its investigation on whether the four given franchises were involved in illegal and contract negotiations prior to the 2021 free agency which was scheduled on August 2 at 6 p.m. ET. 

The Pelicans agreed with the Bulls in a sign-and-trade transaction, wherein they sent Ball with his newest $80 million contract to Chicago for Garrett Temple who got a $15.5 million three-year deal and Tomas Satoransky. Meanwhile, the Heat agreed to sign Lowry to a three-year $85 million, and delivered long-time guard Goran Dragic and second-year man Precious Achiuwa to the Raptors. 

The last team that was handed by the league a tampering charges was the Mikwaukee Bucks in 2020 offseason, wherein the eventual champs lost a 2022 second-round pick after having violations in gaining Sacramento Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Bucks didn’t manage to sign Bogdanovic, as the Serbian inked a four-year $72 million offer sheet with the Atlanta Hawks.