NBA commissioner Adam Silver was not a fan of the way new Sixers All-Star guard James Harden or new Nets player Ben Simmons, the centerpieces of a trade for each other last week, forced their way off their former teams’ rosters. In a conversation with Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, Silver discussed the transaction.
“Players forcing their way out of situations is not new in this league,” Silver said. “I’d love to find a way where to the extent there’s player movement, it didn’t happen in that fashion.”
Silver’s big issue with the deal was the very public nature of the players’ grievances.
“I accept that there will always be conversations behind closed doors, when teams are unhappy, or players are unhappy, [but] the last thing you want to see is for these issues to play out publicly,” Silver said. “One of the things that I continue to do in my role is to think about ways we can improve the system.”
In his first press remarks as a Sixer today, Harden suggested that he had wanted to join All-Star center Joel Embiid in Philadelphia since forcing his way off the Rockets roster during the 2020/21 season, when he was initially shipped to Brooklyn. Harden also allowed that the limited availability of Nets point guard Kyrie Irving had some influence on his decision to demand a trade from the team. Irving has long refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and due to New York’s current vaccine mandate, is not allowed to play at home games for Brooklyn.
Ben Simmons had an interesting press conference of his own today, telling reporters that mental health issues played a big part in his controversial decision to refuse to suit up for 54 games with the Sixers this season prior to the trade.
“I did watch a little bit of James and Ben’s press conferences earlier today,” Silver continued. “And you’re reminded that when you see them sitting up there, on those podiums doing these interviews, these are human beings, who, in both cases, have gone through very stressful situations.”
Silver: “in both cases, have gone through very stressful situations.”
Just what was the very stressful situation that Harden went through? I must have missed it.
Kyrie mother scratching Irving!
Yes. Having a crazy team mate can be very stressful. Hmmmm, perhaps this was a ‘mental health’ trade all around?
It’s a players league so Silver really can’t do anything about it. He works for the owners. Owners want money 1st, everything else is 2nd
And the players are any different? Lol
Well the 2 aren’t the same. Sorry if u don’t see that
What happened if you can’t get along with your coworker?
You quit the job?
Are your coworkers making millions of dollars? Is your boss a billionaire? Harden isn’t exactly a cashier at Hobby Lobby
Um, yeah. I did it when I was 19. Worked at a sporting goods store. New manager hired, brought in a bunch of people I didn’t like, went to a rival store and got a job there. Pretty simple. Kinda works at every level.
Except that you didn’t sign a contract to work there for a certain amount of years. This is not even close to the same. Players forcing their way off teams and to teams they specifically watch, is why the NBA has been going downhill for years.
Yes, a contract is different than most people’s jobs, which are ‘employment at will’, and no one ever decided to shop retail because they know a certain cashier is working there. This is an entertainment business, and much like movies, stars sell tickets, so not honoring your contract is a very serious issue.
Except the NBA is actually more popular than ever. Either this is just your opinion or you’re looking at TV ratings which are no longer a good indicator of popularity.
Stick all the head cases on one team and you expected harmony? Brooklyn got what they asked for. I think none of this happens if it isn’t for their preferential tolerance of Baby Kyrie. They caved on his vaccine requirement which many employers require and that everyone in the organization, his teamates included, accepted. Also, in any other workplace if you start burning sage in a workspace it would definitely be an HR problem. Knowing Kyrie he probably didn’t even check if anybody would be bothered by it. He doesn’t seem to think about anyone but himself. Harden had enough and saw an opportunity to get out. I’m not saying I support a guy who gets paid 44mil and shows up to work out of shape but this thing was off the rails when it began. So far they’ve survived on KDs coattails. If it wasn’t for him they’d be in the bottom of the conference. I think Brooklyn is better now but who knows what new Kyrie problems are around the corner. As for the Sixers, they should have never made this deal.
Mr Silver I so wish you would spend more time finding ways to stop teams trading players, right?
If we are gonna stop the rights of players wanting out we must first stop the rights of teams trading players they don’t want, fair is fair, so when you say stuff like that you just make yourself & the whole game unlikeable, remember fans pay to see the stars, the players, not the teams!
@ElDon
Players and agents can demand a no- trade clause if they feel a certain kinda way or just sign a succession of short 1 or 2 year deals. When an owner signs a player they are signing their rights for a certain amount of years of service. they are paying the cost to ne the boss. if a contract is guaranteed then that player gets paid regardless if their performance falls off the face of the earth or if they get injured. If a player gets trades he keeps all of his money. if a player turns into doo doo the owner gets nothing back. It’s a give and a take situation. Players want more control? Sign shorter term deals.
Or just continue doing what players are doing today because the drama is *shocker* actually good for the league.
NTCs are rare anymore. Like never. And money can be recouped from a player… after like 60 days… the force majuer clause is in the CBA.
These guys have not thought of what players in past have done so they can get these contracts. The next CBA with owners is going to be ugly, the days of holding out and forcing your way out will be gone and the new penalties for trying it will be severe.
Amen …
So one dude bailed on his team twice in the last 14 months, showed up out of shape and visited strip clubs during the pandemic (when in HOU)
Other one couldnt take the well deserved critisicm of fans of his own team and didnt want to play for his team, while his max extension contract for 4 more years, which he signed just last season, just kicked in.
And both of them got exactly what they wanted in the end?
This is why so many ppl hate the nba
I mean, it’s pretty obvious both of them are completely miserable people. They’ll never get what they “want”.
It is more than just a figure of speech when the commissioner admits that he needs to be reminded that the players are human beings instead of owned commodities.
I think he was saying that to ameliorate fan anger, not to remind himself. And, in the entertainment industry, you are the product, so you are a commodity, whose value is v primarily
primarily dependent upon your stats. Just ask DeMarcus Cousins or for that matter Enes Freedom.
Silver…you are in charge. If you actually cared you wouldnt let it happen in the first place.
Lip service…zZzZz
So, he would step in like David Stern did with Chris Paul and void trades? Or kick players out of the league and void their contracts? Neither one serves the players or the league. This indeed needs to be part of the next CBA. However, this was started by LeBron/Bosh/Wade forming their own superteam, and everyone since trying to do the same.
Players need to start realizing that people pay to watch competition, not blowouts. Competitive balance goes out the window if players just all go to whatever team they want. That is why the draft lotto was established, for the good of the whole league – it is why they get paid so much in the first place.
Are there no other options than avoiding trades or kicking players out? He is the commissioner. Get creative.
Anything is better than absolutely nothing, or releasing a comment days later…
@steve
it’s clear that ppl aren’t against super teams. The Bird Celtics had 4 HOF in Bird, Parrish, Mc Hale and DJ. The Magic Lakers had 5 with Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Jamal Wilkes, Bob McAdoo and although he’s not a HOF, Norm Nixon was a 2x all star who averaged 16 pts and 8 assists with the Lakers and helped them win //2 championships. it seems that it’s only when the players lead the union of stars that ppl have an issue with sport.
Thank you exactly
How is it “clear” people liked the same BOS-LAL finals games… I did not… but that is what was offered on tv in the 80s. RS games were rare otherwise. You would need to prove that with attendance figures or something.