I ran across this while doing some scouting for my fantasy team. This seems incredibly harsh. Aren't there other such cases that are widely understood to be under the table deals? Why are they coming down so hard on the Wolves? Could you imagine if the Celtics lost five consecutive first round picks!
http://sports.latimes.com/news/20001025/bko/001025.0311.html
NEW YORK (AP) -- NBA commissioner David Stern came down hard on the Minnesota Timberwolves for the secret salary agreement with Joe Smith, fining the team $3.5 million and taking away their next five first-round draft picks.
The issue of possible suspensions for owner Glen Taylor and general manager Kevin McHale have not yet been decided, the NBA said in a statement Wednesday.