Breaking News

Up to 200,000 people estimated to travel to Vermont for total solar eclipse How fast will April’s total solar eclipse travel? The UN Security Council demands a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan Mexico in the emerging world order Pennsylvania State Guard Organizes Lithuanian Foreign Minister US Abstention from UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza – US State Department USA beats Mexico 2-0 thanks to goals from Adams and Reyna to win 3rd consecutive CONCACAF Nations League Mexico x United States | Highlights Meaning | The Case for American Intervention in Haiti Julian Assange to hear results of key US extradition ruling

LAS VEGAS – Damian Lillard was smiling. Why not? The NBA offseason was less than two weeks old and already Lillard had emerged a big winner from it. Last week, from a dais inside the Thomas & amp; Mack Center, Lillard, accompanied by Portland GM Joe Cronin and coach Chauncey Billups, has formally announced a two-year contract extension. The deal — which allegedly adds $ 122 million to Lillard’s contract, bringing its total remaining value to $ 258 million and guaranteeing the entire NBA guard more than $ 450 million in career earnings — keeps Lillard tied with the Blazers during the 2026–27 season.

Lillard is firm about his desire to win in Portland. “Something that is missing in our league is character,” Lillard said at the press conference. “And the struggle and the passion and the pride about not just the name on the back, but the name on the front.” There is no reason to doubt it. For years, fans and the media have speculated about Lillard’s future. He doesn’t have to. Lillard remained loyal to the small market blazers, emphasizing only the desire to see a winning team built around him.

Lillard has signed a two-year extension to stay with Portland.

But if Lillard wanted to trade, he could get one. If asked, the Blazers, assuming Lillard was still playing at a high level, would oblige, likely for a destination of his choice.

It’s the reality of today’s NBA: Long-term contracts have become meaningless. (Teams, of course, also have the ability to move players basically at any time.)

Contracts — specifically the length and type that players have to sign — have been a hot issue in the NBA for years. In the early 2000s, the league and the players ’union fought over the length of players’ contracts. The NBA wanted to limit them to four years, five if a player re-signed with his current team. The union wanted six and seven. They settled for five years, six with the current team. In ’11, the NBA reduced the length to four and five.

In the decade since then, the landscape has changed. Superstar players, the flexibility and strength (read: roster influence) that comes with it, have signed shorter contracts. LeBron James did it when he signed with the Cavaliers in 2014. Then he did it again. In ’16, Kevin Durant signed a one-year contract with the Warriors. He went on to sign two more — like James, Durant got second-year player options in each of his contracts — before leaving Golden State in ’19.

The biggest change was more recent: Players sign long-term contracts … and then inform their teams that they no longer want to play for them. In 2017, Kyrie Irving, who was fresh from the third consecutive Finals in Cleveland and with two years left on his deal, said he wanted out of the Cavaliers. In 2020, James Harden, when he had two seasons left on his contract, called out for Houston. Eight games into the season, the Rockets negotiated it. Ben Simmons has four years left on his deal when he told the 76ers he wanted to relocate. Philadelphia moved to Brooklyn before the trade deadline. Durant did not earn a nickname on the four-year, $ 198 million extension he signed last fall. However, he made it clear that he wants to trade from Brooklyn — and the Nets are expected to oblige.

KD has four years left on his deal with the Nets.

Participants who push their way through unwanted situations is a growing trend — one that is expected to continue. In Washington, Bradley Beal entered a five-year, $ 251 million extension with the Wizards. “I want to win a championship and I want to do it here,” Beal said. It could be. But if the Wizards don’t rise to a level to contest the title soon — and Washington, which hasn’t won a playoff series since 2017, is a long way off — Beal has the power to force him out. Lillard’s dedication to Portland is genuine. But if the Blazers’ recent maneuver doesn’t push them up in the Western Conference rankings — and Portland, like Washington, has more questions than answers — Lillard could approach trade management. And the Blazers are likely to work with him on it.

In the Summer League, team and league officials acknowledge the challenge. “It’s owners,” a high-ranking team official said. “They are soft. They can’t stand being uncomfortable. ” Several cited Philadelphia’s handling of Simmons ’situation as a model to follow. The Sixers refused to negotiate with Simmons, fined him and moved him only because the return (Harden) justified the deal. “But how many GMs can do that?” he said another exec. “How comfortable are they in that kind of environment as Daryl [Morey] and have the support of ownership to do that?”

The NBA is engaged with union officials on a new collective bargaining agreement — both the league and players can choose not to enter into the current deal in December — but there is no obvious solution. there. The league can push for stipulations on offers max. For example, a player who has signed a maximum contract is not eligible to be traded in his first three years. But this may not have the support of team owners who want the flexibility to set aside a contract. In addition, some team officials do not see the issue as a problem worth addressing. It is better to have the player and be able to recover something for him through trade, officials say, than to lose him for nothing.

Durant’s situation will be the next test. Brooklyn has committed several teams on Durant. As Sports Illustrated reported, the price of the question was high. If he is not reached, several rival team officials have told SI that they hope the Nets don’t just unload him. It would be a victory for the teams. And it could be a win for Brooklyn. In the NFL, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called for a trade after the 2020 season. Green Bay declined. Rodgers reported. The Packers went 13–4 last season with Rodgers picking up a second consecutive MVP. Last March, Rodgers signed a contract extension that will keep him in Green Bay for up to 40 years. A different sport but the Nets, if they show will, can hope for the same result.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *