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MIAMI (SNN-TV) – After a four-month investigation, the NBA has punished the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat with the loss of second-round draft picks because of premature discussions into the free agency of guards Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry.

Chicago and Miami will lose their next available second-round pick after the league concluded that the teams had impermissible discussions with representatives of the players ahead of the opening of free agency on Aug. 2.

On top of this, Miami suffered another blow earlier today as star big-man Bam Adebayo will be sidelined following surgery on a UCL tear in his thumb.