76ers forfeit 2 picks for early FA discussions with Tucker, House

The NBA announced Monday that it's stripped the Philadelphia 76ers of their next two second-round draft picks for tampering violations.

The ruling comes after the league's investigation into the timing of Philadelphia's free-agency discussions with P.J. Tucker and Danuel House. No wrongdoing was found in James Harden's decision to decline his $47-million option in favor of a two-year, $68.6-million contract.

"The Philadelphia 76ers fully cooperated with the NBA's investigation and acknowledge the league's ruling," the team announced in a statement, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "We're moving forward, focused on the season ahead."

Tucker agreed to a three-year, $33.2-million fully guaranteed deal. The veteran is averaging 5.4 points and 4.4 boards through the first seven contests of the 2022-23 campaign.

House signed a two-year, $8.5-million contract with the 76ers. The journeyman wing has gotten off to a slow start, posting 2.7 points per contest and shooting only 27.3% from deep.

The NBA's probe into the New York Knicks' signing of Jalen Brunson is still ongoing, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

In previous years, the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and Chicago Bulls have all been docked second-round picks for conducting early free-agency discussions.

The NBA and NBPA are expected to revisit the rules that punish teams in talks with player agents on pending free agents before free agency officially begins, Wojnarowski adds.