A big headline this summer in the NBA has been the trade demands of star guards Damian Lillard and James Harden.
They have not only asked the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, to trade them, but they have asked to be traded to specific teams.
Lillard is dead set on going to the Miami Heat, while Harden reportedly prefers to be sent to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Some have lamented these trade requests, as they feel both players are trying to dictate terms and exercise a disproportionate amount of power.
Sean Highkin revealed that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t like these trade demands and wants Lillard and Harden to honor their contracts, per NBA Central.
Adam Silver is not in favor of the trade demands made by James Harden and Damian Lillard
“Don’t like them, as a league. I want players and teams to both honor their contracts. I’m watching everything going on in Portland and Philadelphia and hoping they get resolved to… pic.twitter.com/JEO5SUZuGq
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 13, 2023
Both stars are in different contract situations — Lillard has four years left on his contract, while Harden is going into the final year of his deal.
Lillard is coming off possibly his best season ever, but even though he has professed his loyalty to the Blazers in recent years, he finally got fed up and asked out earlier this summer.
In his 11 seasons in Portland, the team has gotten to the Western Conference Finals just once and has missed the playoffs in both of the last two seasons as it has gone with a youth movement.
Meanwhile, Harden is a member of a very good Sixers team that hasn’t been able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
Philly held a 3-2 series lead over the Boston Celtics in the second round of last season’s playoffs, but Harden played very poorly in Game 6 and Game 7, both of which the Sixers lost.
