Adam Silver said his preference is that teams and players honor the contracts that they sign. But Silver also noted that players making trade demands isn’t anything new, and that he’s not sure exactly how to stop it.
James Harden and Ben Simmons were the latest example, but NBA teams are preparing for the next wave of superstar trade demands. Multiple executives around the league are preparing for Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz and Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans to be the next wave of stars to ask out.
Lillard has three years and $137 million owed to him after this season. Portland just kicked off a major roster reset, as they traded Lillard’s long-time backcourt mate C.J. McCollum to New Orleans. It’s rumored that Lillard could eventually seek to win elsewhere, if he can’t compete for a title in Portland.
For the Pelicans, Williamson is extension eligible this offseason. He’s missed the entire season to date, as he’s recovered from a foot injury. In his three-year career, Williamson has played in only 85 games. Various reports have said Williamson is unhappy in New Orleans and would welcome deal to another team.
As for Mitchell, he regularly fends off rumors that he’s unhappy playing in Utah and with Rudy Gobert. He’s only in the first year of a five-year, $163 million contract extension. If he was to ask out this soon, it would be Simmons-like in asking for a trade so early into an extension.
