The Cavaliers‘ decision to sit out Andre Drummond until they can find somewhere to trade him sparked a post-game speech from Warriors forward Draymond Green Monday night, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN. After Golden State defeated Cleveland, Green charged that a double standard exists in the league involving players who request a trade and teams that stop using players until they can be dealt.
“Because when James Harden asked for a trade, and essentially dogged it – no one’s going to fight back that James was dogging it his last days in Houston – but he was castrated for wanting to go to a different team,” Green said. “Everybody destroyed that man. And yet a team can come out and say, ‘Oh, we want to trade a guy,’ and then that guy has to go sit, and if he doesn’t stay professional, then he’s a cancer. And he’s not good in someone’s locker room, and he’s the issue.”
Drummond, who was in street clothes on the Cavaliers’ bench, talked to Green briefly before the game, although Green didn’t reveal the nature of their conversation. Another veteran in the same situation is Pistons’ forward Blake Griffin, who also won’t play again until his team finds a trade partner.
Green was fined $50K last season for saying on Turner Sports that he believed Suns guard Devin Booker should ask to be traded.
“And we’re seeing situations of Harrison Barnes getting pulled off the bench,” Green told reporters. “Or DeMarcus Cousins finding out he’s traded in an interview after the All-Star Game, and we continue to let this happen. But I got fined for stating my opinion on what I thought should happen with another player, but teams can come out and continue to say, ‘Oh, we’re trading guys, we’re not playing you.’ And yet we’re to stay professional.”
Green emphasized that players deserve to be treated with the same respect as team officials and called on the league to start protecting players from the “embarrassment” that can arise. He noted that players who are benched while they wait for a deal are expected to stay in shape and not complain publicly about their circumstances.
“As players, we’re told to, ‘Ah, no, you can’t say that, you can’t say this,'” Green said. “But teams can? It goes along the same lines of when everyone wants to say, ‘Ah, man, that young guy can’t figure it out.’ But no one wants to say the organization can’t figure it out. At some point, the players must be respected in these situations, and it’s ridiculous, and I’m sick of seeing it.”
Harden forced his way out of Houston. Did everything he could to force a trade. That after the organization did everything he wanted from signing Paul and trading for Westbrook. Course he would get dogged for wanting out of the bad situation he helped create in the first place lmao.
Drummond and Griffin agreed with the team it’s best if they sit out until the team finds a trade partner.
It keeps them healthy and not risking unnecessary injury on teams that clearly aren’t in contention. It’s a no brainer. They didnt force Cleveland or Detroit to do anything that set the franchise back.
Big difference between the situations.
Drummond and his agent even met with coach J.B. and discussed it before they benched him. It didn’t come out of nowhere.
Agreed..they are being paid while they sit.. players should be happy.. they aren’t risking injury and team is protecting the player from getting injured to maximize the return.. at the end of the day, when a player signs a contract they are essentially an employee of that team.. Harden like durant, couldn’t win his way so he needed to find a situation that will make his path easier to a chip.
Idk, I’ve ‘agreed’ with an employer in the past for the sake of going along to get along.
The team/employer has the power and controls the narrative. Unless you’re Harden. And even he came out looking bad from what happened.
I’m with Dray.
James Harden had an unforgivable attitude before his departure, but he still averaged 25-5-10 in HOU and played well on the court (correct me if I’m wrong).
We all knew Drummond was getting traded the second Allen came to CLE, this is nothing new. Drummond’s on court attitude is what got him benched. His last 6 games he averaged only 14ppg and 8 boards and had a plus minus of -85 total!!! Why play him? Cavs aren’t good rn, I get that, but how is he helping? Players not playing well get benched, happens all the time. He just happens to be on the way out too.
Harden’s averages did look bad. But as a Rockets fan that watched the games, he looked totally uninterested most of the games. Especially the few before he was traded. Which I guess shows how great he is as a player. Was hardly trying and put up better numbers than most players.
Ok yeah I didn’t see him play so thank you for correcting me. Should have assumed he did stop caring, especially with last game where he trash talked his own teammates to the press
It was common knowledge among anyone who paid attention to the NBA that Harden came into camp late and out of shape. He knew what he was doing before the season began and, yes, he is largely responsible for the situation the Rockets were in.
Yeah I spoke too soon about Harden. I forgot how horrible he really was to the Rockets in the end
So anyone averaging less than 14ppg and less than 8 rebounds a game abound be benched? You make no sense- not logical. I’m sure your a conspiracy theory junky too. Enough said.
That’s quite a reach, tanner829. He didn’t say “anyone” who averages less than those numbers should be benched. He was likely referring to the decline in Drummond’s numbers, specifically.
Haha what? Because I’m a Cavs fan, watch his attitude and play every damn game, and state facts about his poor play…I believe in conspiracy theories? Lol I don’t even know what to say to that. Chief Two Hands understands, thanks bud.
It’s not a double standard with me. I hate both practices equally. And the Anthony Davis/NO debacle as well. Players and teams sign contracts with each other, but they are also both signing deals with fans who pay all of their salaries. They are not only depriving fans of watching these guys play, but they are also putting their teams at a disadvantage by having basically a dead roster spot. It might be a bit hyperbolic, but I believe that fans are being cheated.
Yeah yeah you hate all players we get it, just get a new hobby already – if you arent pro-player then you are pro-owner and therefore not a real sports fan, youre a billionaire fan. Yawn.
Uh, that wasn’t anti-player at all…. it was pro-fan!
Fans are the worst part about the game in 2021. No one needs a collective slap in the face more than homers and fans who hate any players.
You’re trashing homers, Marty? You’re the biggest homer on this board
Wasn’t it last week you were flipping Oubre for Beal
straight up?
@buttholesurfer69: Marty was, like maybe yesterday, saying that the Warriors will add KD and Kawhi this offseason. Totally ignoring their league-worst cap situation and the fact that adding them would add something like $300 million a season to their payroll (~$40 million salary plus luxury tax of $3.75/dollar since they’re already way over; I could very well be miscalculating this).
Yet he’s complaining about fans and homers unironically.
Yup and it wasn’t long before that I remember he was proposing some convoluted multi-team deal where GS gave up like Minny’s 1st, Andrew Wiggins, and Juan Toscano Anderson for essentially the starting 5 of the Eastern Conference All Stars
lmao I wish I’d seen that one.
If I bore you, then don’t read my comments. I am not actively seeking you as a reader.
Stop hating players then and nothing will happen.
He literally said nothing against Green in that post!!!
Stop running your mouth and nothing will happen either.
Keith Bogans is somewhere crying right now.
You know it!!!
He is 100% accurate
He’s 100% delusional, is what he is!!!
Draymond is spot on… The ones that are bashing him are upset that he’s outspoken and isn’t a boot licker…
Guys can just sign one year deals and they won’t have to worry about that then…
How is he right? Drummond likely voiced his desire to either be traded to a contender or bought out so he can sign with one. Im 100% sure it was mutually agreed to suit him out to avoid the risk of an injury prior to being moved or bought out. Not a single word was said about him being a cancer or bad guy. Not at allllllll comparable to Houston/ Harden.
Not a double-standard at all!
There is a HUGE difference between a player asking to be traded behind closed doors, and a player asking to be traded in public. The public request is only done for self promotion.
In both of the situations mentioned (Drummond and Griffin), it sounds like this was agreed to by all parties. So how is that remotely the same?
Well said – very logical and true statement. How can anyone argue against what he said.
They are more than free to just sign one year deals. Then you can play wherever you want but they want that long term security. With that comes the possibility you can just be traded anywhere, whenever.
And ppl keep saying LBJ has shown players they have power yet they ignore the fact that LBJ honored every single year of his contract, never asked for a trade and when in doubt about the franchise’s commitment he chose to sign short term deals. Player’s scream loyalty to a team until they get that max money and then try to orchestrate a move to their desired team.
@KnicksFanCavsFan ……. what a way to spin things.
** Indeed Lebron never asked for a trade, but not because of some sense of loyalty 0r such – a player of his stature (MJ-like) goes where he wants to go.
Surprising that of all people, you’d think that a CAVS fan would surely know how Lebron works by now …… or him coming back to the CAVS (because the HEAT regressed and the CAVS have improved) somehow made things okay again with you.
** Lebron signed short-term deals to maximize earnings and as LEVERAGE, that his team shape-up fast, get him the most help, or he leaves. That’s it.
They -can- and are arguing it because they hate the player saying it and nothing else.
Look, if you hate players so much go get a new hobby because pro sports arent for you. Ive had it with these so-called “fans” who do nothing but hate on players 24-7, its wasting everyones time and your energy could be used better in any other way.
Not anti-player, but I am anti-dumb statements, which is why I’m against what Green said.
why doesnt draymond stfu..teams have different owners/GM’s..only cause one would grant a trade doesnt mean another team will
Whatever happened to loyalty and honoring a contract? Maybe negotiate a NTC. I love these idiots who beg for a trade,then when traded,don’t like it there either.
How about cause they own your contract. And if you wanted to get traded. All you have to do is ask and make it plain to team you are leaving. You can even sit out to emphasize your point. You don’t need to cause a stink like Harden. Especially when Rockets have done everything and more for you. There is no comparison here. Drummond is on expiring contract.
Comical. With the money he makes, you’d think Green would have a little more business acumen. There’s no double standard beyond the fact that the parties have different obligations under their contract. Does he want to pay the Warriors 25 mm a year?
This is a business. Yes, you’re expected to act like a professional when things aren’t fun. That’s why you get paid Draymond. It sucks sometimes, but that’s what you signed up for. Blame the media if you don’t like how they’re portraying someone, not the team. You have a players union and CBA to address things at an industry level.
Nothing you can do to change public opinion. Not sure what his solution is. If you do not want to get dealt out of the blue, maybe work a no trade clause in there or bring that up in the next CBA negotiations. Draymond is yelling at clouds.
I don’t think Green has solutions, but he does like to run his mouth.
It amazes me how badly people, including Green, understand the league and how trades work.
A) Drummond hasn’t publicly demanded to be traded. The Cavs were debating what to do with Drummond whos on an expiring contract. They were real contenders for a late playoff seed before their current 9 game losing streak. Once that happened it made sense to look at moving Drummond and playing Allen. Im sure the veteran Drummond would prefer to be traded to a contender or be bought out so he can sign with one. Im sure their was a conversation had about sitting him out until he’s traded or bought out so they would avoid an injury prior to a move. Why play him now and risk a catastrophic injury that would eliminate the possibility if a trade and missing out on a playoff opp for him? Also, not a single bad word has been voiced about him or categorizing him as a bad guy or cancer. Not a single word.
B) Harden just signed a max deal. When a team signs a max player then they are hoping that player will stay healthy, perform well, help the team win and br the face of the franchise. To their credit the Rockets tried to bring in players Harden approved of. Howard, Paul, Westbrook, e.t.c.
Rockets came into the season hoping to be a title contender. Once Harden demanded a trade he ruined that. As Dray said, he dogged it. Getting paid max money and he acted like a baby. Not just by things he said but by playing poorly too. Complete asshole. THAT’S why he was “demonized”. Cause he sulked and acted unprofessionally.
C) When max players demand trades it causes a lot of future problems for a team. In the NBA you have to match salaries. So it’s not like the MLB where a team can trade a mega star for a bunch of cheap, young prospects. Harden makes $40 mil so that means they have to take back approximately $40 mil in contracts.
These factors limit trade partners. A) No non-contender is going to risk trading for Harden because although they might welcome him as a star they know he wouldn’t want to be there and would likely cause problems for them too. B) Harden had the temerity (balls) to give them a list o for preferred destinations. That limits the team too because theu are all contenders who are looking to ADD to their team not TRADE other valuable pieces to match salaries. Thus no star for star trades. Plus those winning teams are likely to have low draft positions so near future picks are likely not going to give a team like the Rockets lottery pick positioning. Plus they paid Harden $40 mil because he’s a mega talent. Instead of getting back mega talent they get back multiple rotation or semi-stars who add up to $40 mil and eat up cap space.
D) Dray keep your mouth closed about what other teams or players should do. What right do you have to comment about Devin Booker or the Suns should do. You have ZERO authority to say anything.
E) If you want to be traded to another team…. leave the money on the table. You can’t sign a max contract and then want to leave. If you get hurt you get EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR YOU ARE DUE REGARDLESS OF WHAT TEAM YOU SIGN WITH!!!!!! They are assuming all the risk.
Perfect post. Players cannot have it both ways. Actually all things considered, I think Houston did very well in the Harden and Westbrook trades. Houston will come out well when all is said and done.
If Green thinks the NBA is unfair he should quit and get a job at Walmart!!!
In his defense, Wal Mart is not likely to trade you to a Target on the other side of the country for a young cashier prospect and an overpaid, but well known, janitor without your permission.
What if the cashier is really, really hot?
Sure, and he also wouldn’t make 16 million per year at Walmart. It’s almost as if there’s a small amount of responsibilities that come with signing a contract guaranteeing an extremely large amount of money…
If you hate players so much you shouldnt follow the NBA!!!
Can you give the trolling a rest please? Disliking a single player is not a reason to say someone shouldn’t watch the NBA in general.
Draymond maybe you should look at the body of work. Pun intended towards Harden. From the ownership and front office perspective, Harden pretty much took a dump on their future. All the moves made to appease him and he jumps ship. Once Harden showed he didn’t care how much Houston jeopardized in their investment of Harden, it made Houston do immediate damage control. Tons of businesses due that. Compare that to the Lakers or Knicks recently with how their front offices were perceived in the last 10 years. They were only interesting FA destinations because of their location, and not due to organization status. Look at Detroit. They make dumb salary obligations time and time again. People are very aware how organizations and players act more than ever. So the criticism is more than just towards players. When’s the last time you heard a Clippers or Knicks joke? Or a knock on Jordan’s ownership prowess (prior to Hayward and Ball). Sure the player empowerment is loud, due to the money and command those players have in the league and with their teams. Ask the players, would you rather make less, have less enpowement and less recognition? It comes with the territory. The business model invites criticism because of its nature and revenue. The league is a platform catered to them, allowing them to expand their brand. Don’t like, then go under the radar.
Perfect post. Very well said. Can’t have it both ways.
After the 2017-2018 season when Lebron decided to go to LA, I thought Cleveland was doing a great job of starting over by getting the ‘over the hill’ overpaid players off of their books. Then Cleveland signs Kevin Love to a ridiculous extension $120 million for four years. What were the Cavaliers thinking? Did the Cavs think that they were going to build around Love? What have the Cavaliers received for their $120 million?
“Don’t complain about the lettuce, when you’re getting the burger for free”
– Roy Wood Jr.
These comments though…LMAO!
Agreed with the who cares, it is what it is. I do my own thing and work in a profession where I alone am responsible for what I make. Sometimes I don’t make much. Unless you’re willing to do something like this in your own personal life issues such as this are going to arise whether it be in the NBA or at Walmart.
Is anything in life not caveat emptor? Owners are the slave owners, players are the slaves.
Employers are the slave owners, employees are the slaves. Oh, but you have a choice to quit, and go work somewhere else that does the exact same B.S., so you are free & have choice.
I work for myself & I promise you I do plenty of slaving, and the choice between more good than bad, or all bad & rarely any good is not much of a choice at all. I haven’t figured it out either Draymond, and it does lopsidedly suck, but we’re all fighting this fight one way or another
Dray is sooo right in his comments, real nice to see a guy just laying it how it is!
For once I am an agreement with our very own Marty in all his comments in this thread!
If teams have the right to trade players, so do the players to ask a trade, wherever they wanna go & for whatever the teams gets, as simple as!
Folks let’s get real here! As I always say the players are the show here, we pay to watch them… NO ONE CARES ABOUT TEAMS!!!
Sadly we can see here the effects of a few that seem to do so, they see their players as slaves to be traded here & there like property or a market flesh, they are human beings if they wanna move they can, if they don’t wanna move teams have no right to trade them, as simple as!
Teams are just abstract ideas or concepts, what difference it makes if a team is called the Dallas Mavericks or the Fort-Worth Coyotes, no one would care about it, makes no difference to anyone, but having Luka in your team whatever it is called, boy, that is a game changer!
Wish fans weren’t so brainwashed following teams… but then again we live in a world were 99.9% of people are brainwashed, right?
Reading some of the comments here, it’s no wonder our society is at its sorry state.
I get where Dray is coming from, his concern for his peers, but some points he makes sure are dumb.
The level of entitlement in the NBA is at it’s most ridiculously strongest right now. Everyone knows that it’s a players league, but it’s still the old white guys who founded, financed and ran the league into the where it is now – growing international audience, team valuations and guess what, player salaries and exposure at an all-time high.
There are superstars and non-superstars in the league, but in the end, they’re all technically team employees, expected to follow set rules and professional conduct, no matter how unfair some may see it.
The NBA is still a good thing Dray, if he can’t stand the blatant disrespect that he claims exist in the NBA – he can waive his contract and find work somewhere else, I’m extremely sure there are thousands of others who’ll want to take his spot and ball-out and work with the whatever rules are there.
Like someone else said about entitlement, “Don’t complain about the lettuce, when you’re getting the burger for free”.
We pay very good money to see this guys, honcho, right?
Now those thousands that you speak of, if they are not as good as the guys in the league right now, or better, I don’t care how much effort & passion they put into it, if the quality drops I ain’t not watchin’ & most certainly I ain’t no payin’ no good money for it!
That is the point, you change the teams or anythin’ else & still can work, but change the players & it becomes nothin’, mon!
Hold you horses, El Don. Nobody is replacing thousands, as I’m only referring to one Draymond Green.
As good as Draymond Green is (was) and as valuable he is to his team, he’s still someone that can be replaced, so he can spend his days fighting his good fight – to end the blatant “mistreatment” of players in the NBA.
Hey. it’s not so bad Dray. Not as bad as millions of common folks have it with their jobs, or the lack of it.
Dray has got to be one of the biggest mouthpieces in the NBA despite being one of its more mediocre players.
Draymond Green reminds me of High school boys that still lack patience, maturing & shout out the answer to the teacher like a 10 year old, even though the instruction was clear: raise your hand if you know the answer.