Danny Ferry, Atlanta Hawks GM, Fined $15K

Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry has been fined $15,000 by the NBA for inappropriate interaction with officials following the team’s game against the Boston Celtics Sunday. The league didn’t specify what the inappropriate action was or why Ferry was fined that amount.

Executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced the fine Monday, according to ESPN.

The Hawks were leading by 19 points before losing the game 89-81. The loss dropped the Hawks to 20-12 and boosted the Celtics to 16-17.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said that a person familiar with the situation said Ferry “handed game officials a DVD” after the game.

During the same game, Celtics guard Rajon Rondo made contact with official Rodney Mott after being called for a charge. Rondo wasn’t immediately ejected from the game, but he was suspended for one game Monday.

Rondo also bumped an official in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Hawks last season. He earned his second technical foul and was ejected.

As we previously reported, the Hawks signed Ferry to a six-year contract in June 2012. He had previously been vice president of basketball operations for the San Antonia Spurs. Before that, he was the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010. During that time, the Cavaliers had .663 record, had the best regular season record in the 2008-09 and 09-10 seasons. The Cavs also advanced the franchise’s first trip to the Finals in 2007.

Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson said at the time that Ferry had the right character and experience to turn the team around after it lost to the celtics in the first round of the playoffs.