OT NBA forcing teams to play players?

[CupWizier]

Thought I would bring this up for discussion as apparently the NBA is taking a stance with the Pels that they have to play Anthony Davis, but I know other teams sat players in the past with no repercussions. Why didn't they force Houston into playing Melo? I see it from both sides, but I do have a problem with the NBA being selective on who they go after and who they ignore.

Any opinions?

 

[Chris Craig]

Davis is a top 5 player. Not playing him is essentially tanking. The NBA doesn't take kindly to that. Melo is not a player eho impacts the game positively anymore. Not playing him is trying to win.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Thought I would bring this up for discussion as apparently the NBA is taking a stance with the Pels that they have to play Anthony Davis, but I know other teams sat players in the past with no repercussions. Why didn't they force Houston into playing Melo? I see it from both sides, but I do have a problem with the NBA being selective on who they go after and who they ignore.

Any opinions?

I dont like it. Now AD, His agent, the LA Brass and the NBA have said well you arent allowed to tank, which means they’ll more than likely be forced into a really mediocre draft position. So not only has AD forced the pelicans into what will like be a lopsided trade, but is also effecting their rebuild.
Then there is the consistency aspect of it, many guys have been “sat down” for the last half of the season while a team develops young players and goes after the lottery. Why is it ok in other situations and not ok here? Oh its because its Lebrons agent.


I see the flipside of the arguement, but thats not personally how I feel about it.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Just to add a little flavor to this thread:
In his argument for Benson and the Pelicans, Van Gundy said Davis playing puts the Pelicans at risk of reducing its lottery chances and puts Davis at risk of injury, potentially ruining the team’s trade options for him. “I think their owner Gayle Benson has missed out on an opportunity to take a stand for her team and for all small market teams in the NBA,” Van Gundy said. “Anthony Davis, one of the five best players in the NBA, publicly demanded a trade and now the NBA is trying to bully her and threaten her with unduly harsh fines. “I think the league is wrong. I think they should allow New Orleans to do exactly what is best for them because everybody else is doing what’s best for themselves — Anthony Davis and the league. Let the Pelicans do what’s best for themselves.”

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

And why wasn't Memphis forced to play Parsons once he was medically cleared?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Davis is a top 5 player. Not playing him is essentially tanking. The NBA doesn't take kindly to that. Melo is not a player eho impacts the game positively anymore. Not playing him is trying to win.

They let the Celtics sit down Paul Pierce, they let the Knicks tank, Philly was out saying they were trying to lose for like 5 years. Lots of teams right now are literally tanking and some made trades entirely to lose a lot this year and have draft picks / assets for next year. When some teams like the clippers do it its a really good move and smart.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

But NO could have avoided all this by trading him before the deadline.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

But NO could have avoided all this by trading him before the deadline.

Yeah they couldve gotten ripped off earlier rather than later...

 

[CupWizier]

Davis is a top 5 player. Not playing him is essentially tanking. The NBA doesn't take kindly to that. Melo is not a player eho impacts the game positively anymore. Not playing him is trying to win.

But, is it fair to have different set of rules? All players and teams should be treated equally don't you think? Where is the cutoff line then?

 

[Chris Craig]

And why wasn't Memphis forced to play Parsons once he was medically cleared?

His play has declined. Him not playing isn't helping Memphis tank.

 

[Reep]

Silver will toss in some extra ping pong balls for the Pela to make up for it.

 

[Chris Craig]

But, is it fair to have different set of rules? All players and teams should be treated equally don't you think? Where is the cutoff line then?

Because, as the NBA goes, its about not allowing teams to purposely tank. How much does the absence of a player affect the W/L results for the team? With Davis the impact is major. He is their star. Without him they will lose most of the rest of their games, influencing thrir draft position and chances. Guys like Melo and Parsons...their absences have little effect.

Maybe it's not fair. If you think about it another way, sitting a player can affect their market value. That's not fair to the player. I get that argument. As far as the NBA is concerned, they are more worried about teams tanking. Maybe teams should be held to same set of standards when it comes to benching players. Then again the NBA has never been fair.

 

[BrianFromWA]

If I was NOP I’d pay the 100k fines (about 3M left on the year) and make the trade partner pony up 3M in cash considerations for keeping him healthy And not putting extra miles on the odometer.

 

[CupWizier]

Because, as the NBA goes, its about not allowing teams to purposely tank. How much does the absence of a player affect the W/L results for the team? With Davis the impact is major. He is their star. Without him they will lose most of the rest of their games, influencing thrir draft position and chances. Guys like Melo and Parsons...their absences have little effect.

Maybe it's not fair. If you think about a other way, sitting a player can affect thrir market value. That's not fair to the player. I get that argument. As far as the NBA is concerned, they are more worried about teams tanking. Maybe teams should be held to same set of standards when it comes to benching players. Then again the NBA has never been fair.

Okay, but you didn't answer the question. What is the cut off line for who should play and who you can sit? Let's take the Blazers roster for example? We can't sit Lillard but can we sit Aminu?

 

[oldmangrouch]

The Pelicans are being punished for not trading AD to Lebron. By standing firm they PO'ed both powerful agents and the TV networks.

 

[Natebishop3]

Usually the player is in on it, but this time the agent called the league and told them that Davis was healthy and he wanted to play. That's where the fines and the threats came in.

 

[Chris Craig]

Okay, but you didn't answer the question. What is the cut off line for who should play and who you can sit? Let's take the Blazers roster for example? We can't sit Lillard but can we sit Aminu?

The cutoff is the impact the given player would have. If his absence would cause an extensive or considerable amount of losses (thus being defined as tanking), then he has to play if he is healthy. If his impact is inconsequential then he can sit.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Because, as the NBA goes, its about not allowing teams to purposely tank. How much does the absence of a player affect the W/L results for the team? With Davis the impact is major. He is their star. Without him they will lose most of the rest of their games, influencing thrir draft position and chances. Guys like Melo and Parsons...their absences have little effect.

I'm not positive on this line of thinking...Each one of those guys got a max deal, so someone thought they were among the top 50 or so players in the league. By definition they are now a "star". Maybe not "superstar" (as, say, Kyle Lowry isn't LeBron or Klay Thompson isn't Greek Freak), but someone whose absence would raise red flags.

Then again the NBA has never been fair.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

If he demanded a trade publically (which is against the rules), the Pelicans cant play him in good faith.

He has stated he doesn't want to playbfor the franchise, which is grounds to bench him.

 

[Chris Craig]

I'm not positive on this line of thinking...Each one of those guys got a max deal, so someone thought they were among the top 50 or so players in the league. By definition they are now a "star". Maybe not "superstar" (as, say, Kyle Lowry isn't LeBron or Klay Thompson isn't Greek Freak), but someone whose absence would raise red flags.

Did Melo get a max? Parsons did but was injured and not expected to be the same player upon his return. I'm just saying there is a big difference between Davis and those two. Also I guess Davis complained to the league the other two accepted being benched.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Did Melo get a max? Parsons did but was injured and not expected to be the same player upon his return. I'm just saying there is a big difference between Davis and those two. Also I guess Davis complained to the league the other two accepted being benched.

Chandler "max deal" Parsons is healthy and wants to play. Isaiah Thomas wants to play (and not in the G-League). Melo wants to play.

Melo and Isaiah are both on Vet Minimums right now. Isaiah b/c of his hip surgery and rehab and Melo b/c he was bought out of his max deal. But I think the overall premise stands...once you sign the dotted line the team owns you. Can sit you, trade you, etc. If other people think that's unfair or bush league, free agents will stop coming there.

 

[ripcityboy]

The NBA is built on box office visibility. Not a bunch of chubby guys producing cutting defining statistics or anonymous pumped up jocks bashing their skulls together. Daily play produces premium content which equals T.V. rating and higher revenue dollars. Anthony Davis sitting out directly affects that (esp. in that market.) Now AD being hurt or having a contact dispute... that's something the media can spin with the common fan. But his team sitting him because of ill will from a failed move to LA.... that shit doesn't fly. The league office would rather they booed AD than turn off the channel.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

The only reason the NBA exists and the players make so much money is because fans are willing to pay to watch them and all of the merchandising that goes along with it.

Fans need to be able to watch the players they pay to see. At least when it comes to sitting players long term.

I think when a player demands a trade, their pay should be stopped immediately and should not continue until they are on a new team.

 

[kjironman1]

It will indeed be interesting to watch how this plays out. Pretty sure they will essentially Vonleh him.

 

[borim69]

If I was the Pel's I would start him and about 20 secs into the game I would sub him out and not put him in for the rest of the game.

 

[borim69]

The Pelicans are going to lose TV money next year anyways no matter how much they play or don't play AD. Playing him as little as possible makes the most sense and I believe most fans will understand.