shades fills you in

Back during the 2020 season, James Harden said he wanted out of Houston. When the team didn’t act quick enough, he forced their hand, says Bleacher Report. He went to training camp late and out of shape, partied a lot, and said the team stunk

A year later he forced his way out of Brooklyn, says Yahoo Sports. He now plays for Philly

Welcome to the era of player empowerment, baby! Sportskeeda says it started when LeBron James left Cleveland for Miami. It was the first real example of players playing GM

But some -- like Harden and Durant (who also bounces all over the place) -- have taken it too far, thinks Basketballnetwork. They’re so darn entitled, and teams are losing trust in their players

Player empowerment is actually terrible for teams, says SI

And it kind of sucks for most players too, says CelticsBlog. When a superstar forces his way to a new team, it means a whole bunch of other players get uprooted too, against their will

Yep, writes Basketballnews. Player empowerment is more like “superstar entitlement” -- and it’s not just about forcing trades. These guys are also building rosters and hiring (and firing) coaches

Landscape also thinks this whole thing isn’t working for the vast majority of the league. And if superstars are going to play GM then they shouldn’t be bailing!

It’s also not great for fans, says NBC Sports. They care more about teams than players, and when players move it sucks

No doubt, writes Yahoo -- it’s tough to be a fan in this era! We get that the NBA is a business. But it’s way more fun to feel like you’re rooting for a team

But is all this criticism really fair? Draymond Green doesn’t think so. People in other lines of work are applauded if they look for better opportunities. Why criticize athletes for the same thing? (Of course, Draymond was drafted by the Warriors, and is still there, a decade later!!)

Alex Caruso is also sympathetic. Players are just treating the league like the business it’s always been -- and doing what teams have always done

And Basketball-RealGM thinks the league needs to do *more* to empower players. Players have a right to choose where they play!

Yahoo Sports is more philosophical about the whole thing: Is a player beholden to the league, his teams, or himself?