NBA owners have growing concerns about superstar power

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

For the third time in a year, an NBA superstar essentially used leverage to force himself out of a team’s plan, a growing trend that reportedly has some of the sport’s owners concerned.

Paul George successfully demanded a trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder in order to play with Kawhi Leonard on the Los Angeles Clippers. This follows Jimmy Butler, who maneuvered his way out of Minnesota, and Anthony Davis, who forced the hand of the New Orleans Pelicans so he could play with LeBron James on the Lakers.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, this had been a growing concern for owners, and there had been some discussions about how to protect teams who have intricately planned out their futures from the whims of superstars who want to team up. That conversation will only intensify after George’s maneuvering.

In this instance, Thunder GM Sam Presti did well to exploit the situation, even if its development wasn’t necessarily to his advantage. The Pelicans largely did the same with Davis. It’s still not a precedent that owners like, but no league offers players more power than the NBA. To them, that’s a perk.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/report-nba-owners-have-growing-concerns-about-superstar-power/ar-AADWYdI?li=BBnba9I

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

1. Damian Lillard on players recruiting each other in free agency: 'It's become huge'

It’s no secret that in today’s NBA landscape that superstar players have a lot of power.

Take for example this month’s free agency period. The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Anthony Davis after he requested to be dealt from the New Orleans Pelicans midway last season. Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan and Kevin Durant all elected to head to the Brooklyn Nets together, and late last night Kawhi Leonard signed with the L.A. Clippers and the team also traded for Paul George, a player Leonard wanted to team up with.

Portland Trail Blazers’ star Damian Lillard has taken note of the open recruiting that exists between star players and how it’s given players more power than ever.

"It's become huge," Lillard told ESPN. "Because sometimes the coaches and the front offices, they don't have as much power as the players. The players are so friendly now. I think in the past it was like [Michael] Jordan probably didn't go out searching and trying to get guys to come join him. It was like they was competing against each other.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/damian-lillard-on-players-recruiting-each-other-in-free-agency-its-become-huge/ar-AADWUEx?li=BBnbfcL

[Iggo]

2. "It was like they was competing against each other."

Um...yeah.

[JonLP24]

3. Tampering rules should apply to players