Jerry West against player power; believes teams should stand up against trade demands – NBA Update
NBA legend and one of the greatest basketball personalities of all time, Jerry West, has demanded of franchises around the league not to give in to player demands over transfers. Jerry did not name any specific players but it is widely believed that his comments were directed at Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
Howard has made it clear that he wants to be traded away from the Magic and has even gone as far as to name potential new teams. His antics are nothing new as the previous year super star Carmelo Anthony forced a move away from the Denver Nuggets and went to his team of choice; the New York Knicks.
It is a trend that has NBA owners and executives worried and West believes it is high time they made a stand.
"I honestly think I'd call their bluff," West said in an interview on 710 ESPN's Mason and Ireland show Thursday. "I really would, because I don't think any agent or player is going to leave $30 million on the table.”
West was talking about a rule in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that stipulates players can have a much more lucrative deal with their current teams for extending their contracts that they would be allowed in any other NBA franchise. With franchise players such as Howard, that contract could be worth $5-to$10 million more and West doesn’t believe Dwight, or any other player for that matter, would pass up on such money.
"I just don't believe that's going to happen."
That rule was specifically included in the new CBA to help teams get more leeway over players. West believes that with such tools now at their disposal, NBA executives needed only show a little more spine and they could rein in the “rogue” players.
Jerry is one of the most celebrated figures in NBA history. He starred for the Los Angeles Lakers as a player and then took over as an executive, helping them winning many NBA World Champions and bringing in legendary players Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
He is now an executive board member of the Golden State Warriors and says the increasing trend of players forcing moves is harming the game and causing fans to lose interest.
"We have an awful lot of players who say I want to go here or I want to go there. And I think that's what takes some of the joy out of the game and particularly fans and cities that have supported teams." West remarked.
It is yet to be seen what effect West’s comments will have on the situation in Orlando. The franchise seems resigned to losing Howard sooner or later, with New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks among his likely destinations.
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