The NBA fined the Los Angeles Lakers for tampering on Paul George, which is a rare instance where the league enforces its own rules on the common practice.

"If you're not cheating by the letter of the law, you're not trying," said one former general manager. 

A current Eastern Conference general manager had an even stronger assertion.

"You don't get free agents without it," said the GM. "[Tampering] is what the whole league is built on. That's the only way you can get anything done." 

Players from teams trying to sign free agents will often now begin recruiting them long before July 1st.

"There has always been varying forms of tampering, but there is a fine line and some have become blatant and feel they're above the rest," an Eastern Conference scouting director says. "You can push limits and still respect the rules and your opponents."