Gregg Popovich Supports Players 'Doing What They Want' amid Trade Demands
Even after enduring the Kawhi Leonard saga, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich supports NBA players taking more control over their careers and attempting to force trades from their current teams.
According to the San Antonio Express-News' Mike Finger, Popovich said the trend may have "deleterious" effects on the league but that he's ultimately in favor of more player freedom.
"Having said all that, I still have to side with individuals doing what they want with the rest of their lives," Popovich said.
The topic has become even more discussed after Anthony Davis' agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski that Davis doesn't intend to re-sign with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020 and wants to be traded.
Popovich got firsthand experience of the trend in what proved to be Leonard's final season with the Spurs. Leonard only played nine games in 2017-18 while nursing a quad injury and then demanded a trade this past summer.
San Antonio dealt Leonard and Danny Green to the Toronto Raptors for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected first-round pick in 2019.
Popovich's nuanced reading of the situation is arguably the best way to approach things.
Franchises in smaller markets—such as San Antonio and New Orleans—might see their best players more frequently repeat the tactic utilized by Leonard and now Davis. Perhaps their trade demand starts coming earlier relative to when their contract ends.
The NBA benefits when its most prestigious teams are competitive, but there might be a tipping point down the road when the power is concentrated too much among the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics.
However, the NBA already has plenty of dynamics in place—restricted free agency, Bird rights and the supermax extension—to help teams retain their marquee stars.
Players should be free to pursue whatever is in the best interests of their careers regardless of the consequences to their current teams.
