(06-27-2021, 12:47 AM)mavsluvr Wrote: That's just a brief summary. The tampering rule is very broad and can theoretically extend to almost any comment a coach or front office member makes about someone under contract to another team. That is why team policies are usually to avoid commenting about people on other teams.
What you say is true to an extent, but all the extra you cite ignores the key component of what tampering consists of. It's embodied in Coon's summary statement, where he says "...in order to negotiate for their services."
That's where Carlisle's words clearly fall way outside the boundary - wide as it may be - of what constitutes tampering. There's no way it can be construed that Carlisle was somehow an agent of the Mavs and trying to obtain Kidd's services (for the Mavs!). He couldn't speak for them - in fact, he was giving unsolicited advice TO them.
I agree with you there is a common sense component to the idea that it's best just to never mention anyone from another team. Yet a coach or sometimes execs may praise players or coaches for what they do, and it's not out of bounds. It's part of the landscape. So "Say nothing about anyone, ever" is perhaps a good principle to avoid possible issues, but it is not the rule.
Also, the idea that LA might have had some ability to lodge a tampering complaint over Kidd considering a head coaching job "to break his contract" is far-fetched to the point of absurdity. That's silly. First, the Mavs already would have had permission to talk to him (if it was needed, that is). Or Kidd's contract could have already ended. Plus, while it wouldn't be in the CBA (because it's not a player matter), I suspect that there's an NBA By-Law similar to the NFL's that any assistant coach has blanket permission to be interviewed for a head coaching job elsewhere if the opportunity arises (and permission is only needed for parallel moves). And most importantly, the idea that talking about hiring a guy was tampering, but then actually hiring him a few days later is not, is just irrational and nonsensical. You're letting your agenda get in the way of your thinking.