Zion Williamson situation symbolizes growing problem for the NBA

The NBA will be monitoring the Zion Williamson situation with the New Orleans Pelicans closely this season, as is potentially represents a growing problem for the league.

Though Zion has not formally requested a trade or even said anything negative about New Orleans publicly, there are already rumors surfacing that he and his camp are not happy with the team.

This isn’t an unfamiliar problem for the New Orleans Pelicans, who have already had two stars (Chris Paul and Anthony Davis) whine their way out of town for various reasons.

I should first say that I am 100 percent behind player empowerment, as I watch basketball for the players, not the owners and GMs and feel that any person living in a free country should have control over where they work and who they work for.

But players signing contracts and then demanding trades has become a big problem for the NBA, as we’ve seen this season with guys like Ben Simmons, who chose to sit out rather than play for Philadelphia.

James Harden weaseled his way out of Brooklyn after orchestrating a trade to get there the season before.

While this may be good for those of us in the media (trades=clicks), it is not good for the league, particularly small market teams like the New Orleans Pelicans.

Zion Williamson represents problem for NBA

Again, Zion Williamson has not expressed any displeasure about the New Orleans Pelicans publicly, but as JJ Redick said in his recent teardown of his former teammate, where there is smoke there is fire.

Redick called Zion a “detached teammate” and hinted that he thinks Williamson wants out of New Orleans. Stephen A. Smith, who doesn’t hint about anything, said it outright, claiming Zion was never happy that he was drafted by the Pels and knew he wanted to play in a bigger market.

This was all speculation of course, but I’d say Redick has as good an understanding of the Zion situation as just about anyone.

Like I said, I have no problem with players having some control over where they play, but the Zion situation is different from those of Anthony Davis, James Harden and even Ben Simmons.

Zion Williamson has played 85 games in the NBA and missed 117 and counting so far. While he has been a singular talent when he’s been on the floor, he has accomplished exactly squat in New Orleans.

He hasn’t won a playoff game, or even been to the playoffs, has not stepped up as a leader of his team and has disappeared completely this season, leaving fans and the media to fill in the silence with speculation, which hasn’t helped the situation.

The fact that Zion Williamson has the leverage to demand a trade from the Pelicans (HE HASN’T SAID HE WANTS THIS REMEMBER) and could force his way out while still on his rookie deal is a huge problem for the NBA, which has long been trying to build parity through the salary cap structure and incentivizing staying with the team that drafts you.

Instead, players are now just signing those massive rookie extensions knowing that they can force their way out anyway, making the contract worth less than the paper on which it is signed and often leaving their team with a depreciating asset and no leverage.

I am not saying Zion Williamson is going to force a trade, but we all know he could, and that is not good for the league. Player empowerment is great but there also has to be consideration given to the fans, who ultimately fund this whole league and are sick of seeing star players flee for the same five destinations.

I think this will be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement and the players and league are going to have to find a way to keep players from forcing their way off a team before the ink on their contract is even dry.