Report: Mark Cuban Could Be Fined for Comments About Kobe Bryant, Who Says Mavericks Should Amnesty Dirk Nowitzki

by Jen Slothower on Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 1:59PM

Mark Cuban gets in trouble for saying all kinds of things, so it wasn’t surprising when his suggestion that a conference rival get rid of its best player was met with squawks.

Kobe Bryant going off for 38 points and then tweeting “Amnesty THAT” was just the beginning, though. The NBA is now looking into fining Cuban for his comments, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Cuban suggested last week that the Lakers should cut Bryant via the league’s amnesty provision, wherein the Lakers would still have to pay Bryant his $30.5 million salary next season but wouldn’t have to swallow the commensurate luxury tax. Cuban has since reiterated that he was simply making financial comments, not inferring anything about Bryant’s ability. But, while his defense should appease Bryant, it’s probably going to get him into bigger trouble with the NBA, which has rules about talking about finances publicly or tampering with other teams.

Bryant was in better spirits after the Lakers took down the Mavericks on Sunday, 103-99, and he had a clever suggestion for Cuban afterward.

“I’m sure if he wants to amnesty Dirk [Nowitzki], that’s something we’ll entertain,” Bryant said.

Now, where’s the tampering in that advice?