Adam Silver on NBA Stars Forcing Trades: We Want Players and Teams to Honor Contracts

NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants to see both players and teams honor their contracts.

ESPN @espn

Adam Silver joined @malika_andrews to discuss NBA stars breaching their contracts and forcing trades:<br><br>"From a league standpoint we want teams to honor contracts, we want players to honor contracts. ... I know we can do better, I know the players want to do better. " pic.twitter.com/2cB6gfkakr

From a league standpoint, we want teams to honor contracts, and we want players to do the same. I know the players want to do better. If a player wants to leave a city, it has a huge impact on all of the other players.

The NBA has seen more and more star players use their influence and leverage to force trades in the modern NBA, but Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons arguably took it to a new level this past season.

Simmons requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers last summer after they lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the third time in four seasons.

Simmons didn't report to training camp when the 76ers didn't find a trade they liked. He was kicked out of a practice for a lack of effort, suspended by the team, and remained away from the team until he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February.

Generally speaking, players who have forced their way out of situations have later in their careers, toward the end of a current contract, and on teams that weren't considered contender. The New Orleans Pelicans, who had reached the playoffs only twice in Anthony Davis' career, were left behind when Anthony Davis forced a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.

James Harden was in the second year of a four-year, $171 million extension when he forced a trade to the Brooklyn Nets early in the 2020-21 campaign. The feeling around the NBA was that the title window for Houston had likely closed, with general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D'Antoni each stepping down.

Simmons definitely bucked that trend. The 76ers were still considered a contender, with two-timeMVP runner-up Joel Embiid and third option Tobias Harris on the roster. Every year Simmons played, Philly made the playoffs. The window was open.

An Eastern Conference team executive told Chris Mannix that Simmons tried to force a trade. They can not cave.

The 76ers waited until a star player they wanted became available in February with the Harden deal. It was one of the main storylines of the season.