The NBA fined the Houston Rockets $150,000 for making "unauthorized public comments" about Dwight Howard. Comments from both Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and coach Kevin McHale earned the team its fine, SI.com and ESPN reports.
The Associated Press confirmed the fine (via SI.com): "Howard committed to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and join the Rockets on Friday, and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey gave an interview later that night with Comcast SportsNet Houston in which he talked about the recruitment and landing of him. Coach Kevin McHale also discussed Howard over the weekend at the Orlando Summer League."
Morey also tweeted on Friday a welcome to Howard:
While teams can negotiate deals with free agents beginning on July 1, they are prohibited from publically commenting on any verbal agreements during the NBA's moratorium, which lasts from July 1-10.
The moratorium provides the league time to set the following season's salary cap.
Houston, along with the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings, were fined in June for tampering with then-free agents Howard and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul before the July 1 eligibility date.
