Sixers lose two second-round picks according to NBA probe

That Philadelphia 76ers will have their second-round picks taken away in the 2023 and 2024 NBA drafts due to violations of free agency rules through early talks with forwards PJ Tucker and Daniel Haus Jrthe NBA announced on Monday afternoon.

In its announcement, the league said the draft picks were taken away because the 76ers held talks with both players “before the date such talks were allowed.”

“The Philadelphia 76ers have fully cooperated with the NBA’s investigation and acknowledge the league’s decision,” the team said in a statement after the league’s announcement of the punishment. “We’re moving forward and we’re focused on the upcoming season.”

Philadelphia will still have a second round pick in the 2023 NBA draft as the 76ers will receive the most favorable pick Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Networks or Charlotte Hornets in previous deals.

The league had been investigating the 76ers since the summer, when Philadelphia signed Tucker, with his midlevel exemption, and House, with his semi-annual exemption — moves became possible thereafter James Harden took a significant pay cut of around $15 million after declining his player option for the 2022-23 season and re-signing with the franchise, which traded for him in February.

Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that a similar investigation into the New York Knicks signing guard Jalen Brunson away from the Dallas Mavericks was still in progress.

Sources also told Wojnarowski that the NBA and National Basketball Players Association are expected to discuss rules for penalizing teams when they hold discussions with players’ agents about upcoming free agents before free agency begins.

Aside from the ongoing investigation into the Knicks, Philadelphia becomes and joins the fourth team in the last two years to be penalized for violating those rules Milwaukee Bucks, intense heat and Chicago Bulls.

Milwaukee lost a second-round pick over an attempt to sign and trade with the Sacramento Kings to the Bogdan Bogdanovicwhile the Heat and Bulls each lost a second-round pick due to early discussions of sign-and-trade deals that ultimately went through Kyle Lowry and Lonzo ballrespectively.