Chris Paul Trade Rumors: Paul's Demands Prove Players Are Still in Control

The New Orleans Hornets star point guard Chris Paul recently demanded that he be traded to the New York Knicks. While this isn't surprising, as many have speculated Paul has wanted out of New Orleans for quite some time, it just proves that following the NBA lockout, players are still in full control.

While all the bickering was about money, one thing the owners seem to forget is that they have lost control of the destinies of their franchises. While every team is looking to be bringing in closer income of big market teams, players like Paul will continue to demand their way out and into the bigger cities.

The Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is a primary example of this. The Denver Nuggets had one star player in Anthony, but since he refused to stay around, they were forced to trade him. He didn't really give the Nuggets an option.

They did what they could to keep him around, but in the end, the big lights of New York were way too appealing to an athlete as good as Anthony.

Some players have seen there to be more then the big city lights. Guys like Kevin Durant have enjoyed playing in smaller markets like the Oklahoma City, where his Thunder are quickly becoming one of the best teams in the league.

That is what is important.

It isn't about where you live during the season, it is about doing your job. Unfortunately, the trend has been finding players to be more attracted to living in more lively city areas.

This trend is likely going to continue, and Paul is the latest example. The owners won the lockout in getting more of the revenue, but they will continue to lose in the battle of the wits. These players hold too much control.

If they don't want to play for their franchise anymore, they could hold out or simply retire. Either way, they are going to do something to get their way or make the franchise suffer.

Paul doesn't seem like the type of guy who is going to make his franchise suffer by doing something as drastic as retiring, but he likely will do what he can to force himself out and move onto a bigger city such as Orlando, New York or Los Angeles.

This isn't going to end, and it proves that no matter what is said behind closed doors in negotiations, this league will always be controlled by the players. There is no way around it either. The owners have let their agents have too much power for too long, and it will just continue to happen.