Report: 'An overstatement' to say NBA is actively investigating comments about Luol Deng
Bruce Levenson is selling his controlling stake of the Atlanta Hawks, Danny Ferry has taken a leave of absence as the team's general manager, and that is apparently enough as far as the NBA is concerned.
While the NBA claims to be learning from the NFL by taking a look at its domestic violence policy, it does not appear to be taking notes on how to stay in front of a scandal. The NBA acted swiftly after audio of Donald Sterling's remarks surfaced - though many have been critical of the league waiting for a public smoking gun when they knew of Sterling's discriminatory history - and got in front of the Levenson story, they are reportedly willing to let a major part of the Hawks situation lie.
Levenson is out voluntarily, and Ferry was able to step down rather than being removed, something Silver didn't think was necessary back on Sept. 12:
These words, in this context, understanding the full story here, the existence of the scouting report, the fact that he was looking at the scouting report as a reference when he was making these remarks, what I'm saying is - and frankly my opinion - is that this is a team decision in terms of what the appropriate discipline is for their employee. But if I'm being asked my view, I'm saying that, based on what I know about the circumstances, I don't think it's a terminable offense.
With the offending owner and GM out, it's easy to see why the league would leave things as they stand. But that ignores the fact that Ferry was reading off a scouting report from a former Cleveland Cavaliers executive, who has remained unnamed and unpunished.
It's likely to stay that way, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal:
The NBA has poked around and asked some questions about the Luol Deng scouting report that was leaked recently, a league source with knowledge of the situation said. But it’s an overstatement to categorize the league’s involvement as an active investigation.
The league seems to be approaching this just as the Cavs are: The redacted report clearly seems to indicate it’s a former employee, so there isn’t much that can be done at this point.
As Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk points out, the latter point is kind of ridiculous, if not understandable:
The NBA’s responsibility doesn’t end just because this person left Cleveland. If the league truly cared about eradicating racism from its business, it would find the source and punish him or her. Even if the person has left the NBA entirely, many people lose their positions and then get re-hired elsewhere in the league
It's easy to see the league's point of view here. Two major names have taken an appreciable professional hit, and the last person remaining tied to the offending comments is anonymous and out of work. It ignores that someone felt safe writing that Deng being African was a mark against him, and that the person who wrote it may find their way to other employment in the league in the future.