NBA head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said: "The Dallas Mavericks' decision to restrict key players from fully participating in an elimination game last Friday against Chicago undermined the integrity of our sport. The Mavericks' actions failed our fans and our league."
The fine stems from the Mavericks' actions in a game against the Chicago Bulls on April 7, when Dallas still had a chance of qualifying for the NBA's play-in tournament. Dallas sat Kyrie Irving, limited the play of Luka Doncic and made four other players unavailable.
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"The Dallas Mavericks' decision to restrict key players from fully participating in an elimination game last Friday against Chicago undermined the integrity of our sport," said Joe Dumars, the league's head of basketball operations. "The Mavericks' actions failed our fans and our league."
Against the Bulls, Tim Hardaway Jr. (left ankle), Maxi Kleber (right hamstring), Josh Green (rest) and Christian Wood (rest) also were held out by the team.
The next day, the NBA announced it would investigate the Mavericks' actions, which seemingly were taken to protect their first-round pick in the draft.
After the loss to Chicago, Dallas coach Jason Kidd said the organisation made a tough call.
"Decisions sometimes are hard in this business. We're trying to build a championship team," Kidd said. "With this decision, this is maybe a step back, but hopefully it leads to going forward."
Kidd termed the situation as an "organisational decision" that was made by owner Mark Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison.
Cuban was fined $600,000 in 2018 for publicly admitting the Mavericks were tanking ahead of a draft in which Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and Doncic were among the top prospects. Dallas selected fifth on draft night and took Trae Young and traded him to the Atlanta Hawks, who sent No 3 overall pick Doncic to the Mavericks.