The Athletic just sent out a push notification for an article called “Inside the end of Stan Van Gundy with the Pelicans and the ongoing battle to keep Zion Williamson happy.” It leads with comments about family members pushing to get him traded to another team.
Putting aside what people think of SVG’s style, NOLA’s front office and how this will play out, the league has a really big problem emerging on its hands with players not honoring their contracts to force their way into other situations: Harden, Davis, Kyrie, Griffin, to name just a few. Williamson isn’t there yet but it’s probably only a matter of time. Same probably with Lillard.
No this problem isn’t entirely new – but playing the “I’m injured all the time until I’m happy” card is. And unfortunately for management coincides with a larger conversation happening about power dynamics between management and employees, as well as the racial reckoning.
Notable exceptions to the sandbagging part of this trend include Lebron, Durant and Paul, who have moved teams and, at least in Lebron’s case, used their star power to have say over personnel and coaching hires – but never failed to fulfill or honor their commitments to their current teams to do so. The Decision may have been distasteful in some ways but at the end of the day, it was just two free agents legally colluding with another player.
What’s happening now is … different. The minute someone is drafted or signs with a team, the discussion shifts to “how they can keep him happy” – and how long it will be before he wants out.
I’m under no illusions about management and not suggesting the league return to Reserve Clause-style practices. But having players call all of the most important shots doesn't seem tenable or in the best interests of the game, long term (or maybe even short term). And if the Nets end up winning, it is only going to make things worse.
What does the NBA do? What can they do?
Putting aside what people think of SVG’s style, NOLA’s front office and how this will play out, the league has a really big problem emerging on its hands with players not honoring their contracts to force their way into other situations: Harden, Davis, Kyrie, Griffin, to name just a few. Williamson isn’t there yet but it’s probably only a matter of time. Same probably with Lillard.
No this problem isn’t entirely new – but playing the “I’m injured all the time until I’m happy” card is. And unfortunately for management coincides with a larger conversation happening about power dynamics between management and employees, as well as the racial reckoning.
Notable exceptions to the sandbagging part of this trend include Lebron, Durant and Paul, who have moved teams and, at least in Lebron’s case, used their star power to have say over personnel and coaching hires – but never failed to fulfill or honor their commitments to their current teams to do so. The Decision may have been distasteful in some ways but at the end of the day, it was just two free agents legally colluding with another player.
What’s happening now is … different. The minute someone is drafted or signs with a team, the discussion shifts to “how they can keep him happy” – and how long it will be before he wants out.
I’m under no illusions about management and not suggesting the league return to Reserve Clause-style practices. But having players call all of the most important shots doesn't seem tenable or in the best interests of the game, long term (or maybe even short term). And if the Nets end up winning, it is only going to make things worse.
What does the NBA do? What can they do?