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Stephen Jackson Demands Trade
When Baron Davis bailed out of Golden State to sign with the Clippers, most believed that with this loss of their best player and leader, the Warriors would once again become insignificant. Fans feared losing Stephen Jackson as well, who was very close with Davis. He wasn’t shy about his disappointment in the organization’s inability, or better said unwillingness to re-sign Baron Davis and give him the money that he was asking for. Nevertheless, Jackson quickly assured the fans of his happiness in the Bay and that he would not ask for a trade and give up on the Warriors. A contract extension for three years and approximately $28 million followed in November of 2008.
As soon as the 2008 season was over for the Warriors, in which he averaged 20.1 points, 6.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game, Jackson began expressing his unhappiness with his team and demanded to be traded. Not only did he want the Warriors to trade him, but Jackson even went as far as to present the organization with a list of teams he’d like to be traded to. Those were Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Cleveland and New York. He has already been striped of his captaincy, fined, and suspended by the team for 2 games during the preseason. The Warriors realize that they can either keep Jackson, in which case he would surely be a distraction and a negative influence in the locker room, or they can accommodate him with a trade. They are currently talking to teams, but no deal is imminent.
This is just one of many such examples, in which players simply have to express their desire to be traded and in most cases their wishes are granted. It is a very ugly and disturbing aspect of the game. Players are truly spoiled and enjoy too much autonomy. In the case of Stephen Jackson, it is evident that he tricked the Warriors into believing him when he stated “I’m extremely happy. I am really looking forward to the next several years, helping this young team win and providing my veteran leadership.” Clearly, he only accepted the extension because he knew no other team would offer more money if he went to free agency. Some might say Stephen Jackson is a smart man, others would call him dishonest and a swindler. Warrior fans probably lean towards the latter right now.
Should teams have the right to void deals with players who refuse to honor their contracts? That is a tough question, but one that must be asked in such situations. A contract is a contract, and it is too often the case in the NBA that players get to decide how binding their signatures really are.
–am
