More than ever NBA players are controlling their own destinies, but at what cost?
Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe, and host of Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed, isn’t surprised NBA stars hold all the leverage when it comes to their future.
When New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis announced he wanted to be traded the same news cycle played out. People are shocked about the timing, fans are split down the middle on how to react and every “source” with insight on where he might go next makes its rounds on Twitter. Some media folk voice their distain for how it all plays out, but Sharpe, who was making his rounds during Super Bowl week on behalf of Tru Niagen, sees no problem with it.
“Teams want to have all the leverage,” Sharpe told FanSided’s Mark Carman. “How many times have we seen teams trade a player like that? Basketball, unlike other sports, is a superstar driven league. The superstars have always had that power, now they have more of it.”
The NBA is the most player-focused league for sure, and surprise trades happen all the time, like Blake Griffin’s sudden exit from the Los Angeles Clippers last season, but one of the biggest issues the NBA has is lack of balance, in conferences and in competition.
Look at the NFL, specifically the NFC, every season a new team emerges as the best team in the conference, and while the Patriots have been a mainstay in the AFC there are a slew of teams that challenge them every season.
The same can’t be said for the current state of the NBA. Regardless of what trades happen during the season, it’s almost a forgone conclusion that the Golden State Warriors will be throwing another parade.
But Sharpe, doesn’t see this as anything new for the league.
“It’s always been like that. The Celtics and Lakers in the ’80s had all the talent,” Sharpe said. “People want to make it seem like ‘oh the talent has always been spread thin,’ there’s a reason why 8 of the 10 tiles won in the ’80s were the Lakers and Celtics. It’s always been like that.”
There’s no denying that the idea of super teams isn’t a new concept. Sharpe’s right, the Celtics, Lakers, Bulls and Pistons have all had iterations of that. But the difference between then and now is back then players weren’t actively seeking a trade to play with their best friend, and if they were the public didn’t know about it.
Now, small market teams, like the Pelicans, are losing their biggest stars to teams in a more appealing city. Teams are losing leverage completely by their best player making it known publicly that they will only sign an extension with one or two teams, making it difficult to get a great deal done.
There’s no good guy in this scenario. Teams trade players all the time after promising them the moon, and players want to leave for bigger markets. You can’t fault players for trying to control their own lives. But that doesn’t make it sting any less when someone like Davis who has been the symbol of hope to your city for seven years, publicly says he no longer wants to call New Orleans home.
As far as when and where Davis will be traded, Sharpe sees this a long game for New Orleans. The Lakers have been the most vocal in pushing for a deal before the February 7th trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean it’ll happen.
“I don’t think he ends up on the Lakers by the trade deadline because the Pelicans have no incentive,” Sharpe said. “The last guy that I could remember that got to go to the place he wanted at the trade deadline was Carmelo [Anthony], he wanted to go to the Knicks. Teams normally are like ‘I’m not going to send you where you want to go.'”
The Pelicans could jump now and take what the Lakers, or any other team has to offer, or could wait until free agency opens July 1st to create a bidding war with all of the top teams in the league. Whatever happens, New Orleans will just be the latest city that got squeezed out by the bigger and brighter destinations.