Treatment of players by NBA management

With all the trades that have happened recently, I've gotten a much better look at other teams and why they've traded so and so during the past week. And to be honest, it has really given me a much different take on the mangement-player relationship. And I want to share my thoughts.

Let's look at the best players coming in from the Knicks and the Kings.

Kevin Martin - the main fixture of the deal.

He has been the Kings best player for the past several seasons, arguably the cornerstone of their rebuilding process. Yet, with the drafting of Evans, and his injury early in the year, the Kings rebuilt their entire offense, catering only to Evans and pretty much takes Martin out of his comfort zone. And all it took was about 20 games. Basically, it was a screw you to Martin.

Martin was unhappy. But thankfully he could do something about it. There are reports in Sacramento that his agent Dan Feigan leaned on Peatrie to force Martin out. And agents tend to have ways to get what their clients wnat. Trade followed. Fortunately for us, Morey obtained a player that he previously thought out of reach.

Jordan Hill - the #8 pick in the draft.

You know what's funny? If the Knicks, on the clock at #8 during last year's draft, offers the #8 pick + Jeffries for expiring contract, I would bet half the NBA be interested. Heck, they might even take Curry's contract. Morey would definitely nod immediately and probably draft Brandon Jennings without a second thought.

So now that we've established just how valuable the pick was, so how was Hill treated in NY? He was jerked in and out of the lineup. D'Antoni never cared to teach him, despite knowing his rawness. And for what? The team is filled with expiring contracts who all have zero chance of returning. And worst of all, the team SUCKED!

This isn't even a JVG vs VSpan situation where the coach's job was on the line for winning. What are the odds that D'Antoni gets fired if NY sucked this year? None! NY's entire success is based on next year. And that only involves Gallinari, Chandler, Hill, and maybe David Lee. Literally everyone else was just biding their time until they bolt next year.

And even with all that, the team basically let Jordan Hill rot. And what did Jordan Hill do? Nothing. Because he couldn't do anything.

My point? - It's just BUSINESS

Teams and players are not suppose to be buddy-buddy. They have different goals, and they take different routes. It's the same everywhere.

I don't want to make this T-Mac-centric, which it might end up being. I just want to relate to the dirty, business side of things. That power dictates everything. For players, that means being REALLY GOOD, and getting a REALLY BIG CONTRACT. Because that's what matters.

Let's look at the player power-ranking here.

1. Kevin Martin - As probably the 2nd best player on the Kings team, he had tons of leverage. And even more when he hired one of the more powerful agent in the game, Dan Feigan. If he was unhappy, it would throw a huge monkey wrench in the Kings plans. And in the end, it helped the Kings cave on a trade.

2. T-Mac - Although he had no leverage as a current player, he still has leverage as a ex-superstar with an agent making a nice commision off his contract. Tellum, who also represents Evans, pretty much bullied the Kings into turning a 2-team trade into a 3-team trade. The Kings got NOTHING from expanding the trade. T-Mac got his wish.

On a side note, think about how the Rockets dealth with T-Mac before his injuries? They pretty much kissed his ass any way the could. This is a player's power. And superstars(think Lebron/Kobe) almost always get what they want.

3. Everyone else - Landry, Hill, Jeffries, Sergio, etc. all basically had no say. They are young players with literally no clout with anyone. Landry may be a very good player, but he doesn't superstar potential nor a Feigan/Tellem to help dictate terms. And teams don't really give a damn about anyone else, besides help make the details work out.

In the end, the NBA is a nasty multi-million dollar business. And it definitely goes both ways. We may feel like everyone should play nice or be friends, but unfortunately it's very brutal.