Why trade requests are good for the NBA
Graphic by Bryce Wood/Sports Illustrated
In the last few NBA seasons, we have seen an abundance of trade requests that have changed the landscape of the NBA.
The recent big trades in the NBA began with Kyrie Irving requesting a trade and ending up in Dallas to pair up with arguably the best player in the NBA, Luka Doncic.
The other major trade that occurred was when Kevin Durant secretly requested a trade a second time as a Brooklyn Net and was moved to Phoenix in a trade that sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and picks to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant and picks.
The season prior, James Harden was one of the recent players to request a trade from Brooklyn just a season after requesting a trade to Brooklyn from Houston. Another example is Paul George requesting a trade to the Clippers when Kawhi Leonard signed with them in 2019 after requesting a trade out of San Antonio, which changed the landscape.
Every year, a one-star player seems to get moved, whether by trade request or if the team sees the move as best for their organization. The Brooklyn Nets saw it that way by getting rid of Durant and Irving and leaving all the drama they had endeavored in the past four years.
In a recent interview during the 2023 All-Star break players conference, Durant sees the trade requests as a benefit for the NBA:
“I don’t think it’s bad for the league,” Durant said. “It’s bringing more eyes to the league; more people are more excited. The tweets that I get; the news hits that we got from me being traded; it just brings more attention to the league, and that’s really what rakes the money in, when you get more attention. So, I think it’s great for the league, to be honest.”
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Irving also defends his and Durant’s decision to make business decisions that better their mental health and careers.
“It’s a bad situation. Why doesn’t anyone have the ability to ask for trades? That’s my question. When did it become terrible to make great business decisions for yourself and your happiness and peace of mind? Not every employer you’re going to get along with, so if you have the chance to go somewhere else and you’re doing it legally, I don’t think there’s a problem with it,” Irving said.
The NBA has reached a point where the players are making their own decisions, which separates the NBA from other professional sports as they value the players. With the NBA landscape always changing, it’s refreshing for fans to see different teams become contenders.
Will other professional sports leagues transition to a player ran league? I think so as people are gaining confidence in their independence.