NBA cracking down on superstar trade demands with Lillard memo

The NBA is trying to crack down on superstar trade demands with a recent memo to the league about Damian Lillard.

Lillard, like many superstars before him, has demanded a trade after signing a super max contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Blazers have gone with more youth around Lillard, which didn’t please a 33-year-old player who wants to win now.

Lillard’s demand is even more complicated for the Trail Blazers, as the superstar made it clear that he only wants to play for the Miami Heat. Portland can get a better deal somewhere else, so are in a pickle between trying to make a franchise icon happy and trying to do what is best for the future of the team.

This is the bit the NBA is trying to end. Here’s the most relevant part of the memo:

"“The league advised Lillard and Goodwin that any future comments “suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade” will be subject to discipline, as will be any similar comments by players or agents moving forward.”"

What the punishment might be and how it will be enforced were not clearly explained.

So for Lillard to end up in Miami, it’s going to take a third or even fourth team to get it done, which could give a team like the Detroit Pistons to get involved as an extra team in the Lillard trade.

Whether this memo has the intended effect is yet to to be seen, but the NBA is at least trying to address something that has been a big problem and something that could eventually affect the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit Pistons: NBA cracking down on superstar trade demands with Lillard memo

For superstars, contracts are really more theoretical than anything, as they can just sign the biggest deal possible knowing that they can demand a trade down the line anyway. You can’t blame the players for getting max money and they have every motivation to sign with teams they have no intention of staying with.

It’s hard enough for smaller market teams to keep superstars without them being able to dictate where they play even after signing a contract. And it puts these teams in a bad position when they have no leverage after said superstar limits the teams they will play for.

I hate to say it, but it’s not hard to imagine the Detroit Pistons eventually being in this position with one of their young players. Teams now have to start preparing for this eventuality before star players have even signed their rookie extensions.

Of course, some would say that player movement is good for the league, and it’s not like Lillard going to Miami guarantees them anything. The Trail Blazers will eventually get the largesse they want if they decide to trade Lillard and veteran stars should have some sovereignty over where they play.

But while all of this tampering, rumor mongering and demanding trades might be good for the business around the NBA, it’s not great for small-market teams that lose all leverage when their star limits their options.