Current NBA Player SLAMS Harden & Lillard for Trade Demands

July 24, 2023 , , , ,


Austin Rivers has played 11 years in the NBA, with seven different teams, and signed nine different contracts. He's been traded, he's been a free agent, he's been around the block. And he just can't agree with what the likes of James Harden and Damian Lillard (and others) have been doing in recent times, demanding a trade while still under contract.  

"The NBA is a privilege. If you were a free agent, then you could choose where you were gonna go… This started with James [Harden] and Ben [Simmons] and all these guys doing this sh*t. It's bad for the league," says Rivers. 

"Regardless of how good of a player you are man," Rivers added, "When you're not (a free agent) and you sign a deal, man, that's part of the business, bro... If you get traded somewhere, you gotta go! It's bad for the league. That's why our CBA deal that we just signed... don't even get me started on that deal, because it's top-heavy... you either make $50M or $2M... It's a joke."

Rivers, the son of currently unemployed head coach Doc Rivers, is currently not in possession of a job himself as an unsigned free agent. He spent last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing in 52 games.  

Lillard has demanded a trade to the Miami Heat, with two years and $94M remaining on his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, while Harden picked up his $35M option with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, then immediately demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. 

"It's a scary dynamic when stars start acting like this, and I'm not a big fan of it," concluding Rivers. 

 Photo: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

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