NBA Fines Owners and Execs for Talking About LeBron James

Apparently, the free-agent possibilities of NBA star LeBron James are on the minds of everyone in the NBA, including players, executives and others. This only makes matters worse after former NBA star Calvin Murphy went on national radio and claimed that rumors are true that LeBron's mother is sleeping with fellow Cleveland Cavalier Delonte West.

The big financial stings, however, have come from fines to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Steve Kerr, the president of Basketball Operations with the Phoenix Suns.

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Magic Johnson Professional Profile

MJ Enterprises
MJ Enterprises serves ethnically-diverse, urban communities of Magic Johnson Enterprises makes strategic investments, partnerships and endorsements in ethnically-diverse urban communities. Magic Johnson Enterprises covers all of the business ventures connected to his name and assets: Magic Johnson Movie Theaters and 90 Starbucks locations.

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Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Rivalry with Larry Bird
It started with the game that put the "Madness" in the month of March. Bird's Indiana State vs. Magic's Michigan State Spartans in the 1979 NCAA Championship game. Larry lost. But it was only the beginning for this rivalry that spanned on to the 1984, 1985 and 1987 NBA Finals. "We came along at the right time," says Magic. "That's all I can say. I needed Larry and he needed me. We pushed each other, meant so much to each other and meant so much to the game. It was a fun time."

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Basketball Career
Magic played a big part in pulling the NBA from near bankruptcy into making huge profits. The Hall-of-Famer is one of the greats. His career by the numbers: One gold medal during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games; 5 NBA Championship Rings (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988);
3-Time NBA MVP (1986-1987, 1988-1989, 1989-1990); 12-Time All-Star.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

USA Olympic Dream Team
The Dream Team dominated in Barcelona, Spain. It was obvious this was OUR sport. Team USA beat its eight opponents by an average of 44 points! No wonder: they had Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, the irrepressible Charles Barkley for a little spice, as well as seven more NBA All-Stars: centers David Robinson and Patrick Ewing, power forward Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, and point guard John Stockton. As one story on NBA.com goes: While trying to guard the 6-foot-9 Magic, one foreign player was seen waving to a teammate on the bench with his camera. He was making sure he got a picture of them together.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Coaching The Lakers
Magic became the Lakers' coach in March 1994, following his burning desire to coach in the NBA. He took over one of the league's worst teams mid-season. The Lakers went 5-11 under Magic and he quit after the season.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Owning The Lakers
Next, in 1994, Magic bought a stake in his team. He still holds title of vice president today, working in various management areas. "This has always been my dream," Johnson said when he inked the deal. Magic paid more than $10 million for part-ownership.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

The Biographies of Earvin Johnson
In 1992, Magic wrote his autobiography, 'My Life,' one of nearly a dozen biographies to be published on the NBA great. In the tell-all, Magic shared his upbringing by an auto assembly-line worker father and hard-working mother. The book opened with "I grew up in the kind of black family that people today worry is disappearing. Even though there were nine of us - we had what we needed - two great parents, food on the table, and time for the whole family to be together."

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

The Magic Hour TV Show
Johnson premiered 'The Magic Hour' talk show in 1998. The show, which had hopes to replace the Emmy Award-winning The Arsenio Hall Show, was canceled after eight weeks on the air. The Magic Hour might best be remembered for an episode featuring shock jock Howard Stern, who ridiculed the short-lived show.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

The Magic Johnson Foundation
The MJ Foundation is one of two of Johnson's professional endeavors bearing the "Magic" brand. MJF has awarded more than $1.1 million to community-based organizations that focus on HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and has established four HIV/AIDS clinics.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

HIV-AIDS Awareness
In 1991, Magic announced he had HIV, which causes AIDS, and his fight to find a cure has never ended. Without a doubt, Magic is one of the premier spokesmen for HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment/cure research. In 2007, Magic founded the "I Stand With Magic" Program and web site. It is a part of a campaign to empower all people to take a stand against HIV/AIDS. The site gives info on HIV/AIDS issues as well as education and awareness materials, and testing and treatment resources.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Kerr was fined $10,000 for commenting on LeBron's free-agent status, and Cuban was fined $100,000. The fines came because speaking about the status of a free agent violates the NBA's policy against tampering, since James is still under contract with another team. They can speak about James publicly after July 1, but not before that date.

In a recent interview with CNNMoney.com, Cuban said "Come July 1, yeah, of course," Cuban said. "You know, anybody would be interested in LeBron James. If he leaves via free agency, then it's going to be tough. If he does like I'm guessing, hoping he will, which is to say, 'I'm not going to leave the Cavs high and dry,' if he decides to leave -- there's still a better chance he stays -- then he'll try to force a sign and trade and that gives us a chance."

Kerr's comments were in jest on the 'Dan Patrick Show,' where he said, "If he'll take mid-level, we'll give it to him. I think he'll take it. Don't you think?'"

James' current NBA salary ties for 19th in the league, at $15.8 million per year. The highest is Tracy McGrady of the New York Knicks at $23.2 million per year (is there something wrong with this picture?). LeBron is sure to rise near the top of the NBA salary list after his new deal is signed, and he already earns more than $40 million per year when endorsements are added on. Due to salary cap restrictions, LeBron has a huge incentive to stay with the Cavs. The Cavs are allowed to give him a six-year deal with 10.5 percent annual salary increases if they max out. Another team can only give him a five-year contract with 8 percent annual increases. The new city would have to provide something other than money to make him interested in leaving Cleveland.

One city that has been frequently mentioned is New York. The Knicks have the money to pay LeBron (they've paid big money to less capable players), and they are relatively far off from their maximum financial commitment under the NBA salary cap rules. They are also the media capital of the world and would surely give LeBron enough endorsement opportunities to easily compensate for the $30 million he'd be leaving on the table by ditching Cleveland. It's going to be an interesting fight to see who lands King James, and it appears that the entire NBA is dying to talk about it.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.