Draymond Green did not want to focus on the Cleveland Cavaliers Golden State Warriors’ 30-point demolition on Monday night. Instead, he spent most of the press conference before the game talking about how the NBA treats its players and the double standard.
Green’s comments were not questioned, but they were ignited by the Cavaliers, who chose to occupy Andre Drummond’s center while trying to negotiate him. Cavs have no plans to face it while looking for a trading partner before the March 25 deadline.
Green called the situation “bulls ***” and compared it to James Harden asking to leave the Houston Rockets organization.
Green: double standard in NBA player treatment
“Watching Andre Drummond, before the game, sit on the side, then go to the back and go out in normal clothes because a team will change him, these are bulls ***,” said Green, who was seen talking to Drummond for a few minutes. before reporting. “Because when James Harden asks for an exchange and essentially chases her – … no one will dispute that James was chasing her in his last days in Houston – but he was castrated for wanting to go to a different team. And everyone destroyed that man.
“And yet a team can come and say, ‘Oh, we want to change a guy.’ And then that guy must sit down. And if he doesn’t stay professional, then he’s cancer. And he’s not good in someone’s locker room, and he’s the problem. ”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst reported on Monday that the Cavaliers are keeping Jarrett Allen as their center of attack and believe it is unfair for Drummond to limit his minutes. When general manager Koby Altman discussed the move with Drummond and his agent, they decided that Drummond would no longer be active.
Harden’s situation, as Green noted, is very different. Harden requested an exchange after years of trying to win a title in Houston. When he was not eliminated in the off season, he did not give his all on the training ground or in the first five games of the season. Houston traded it to Brooklyn Nets in a highly successful deal last month.
The veteran was criticized for his demands and considered “disrespectful”.
Green: Give players the same respect and rights as teams
Green, 30, started to notice a handful of other situations that he saw negatively in the player’s treatment. In February 2017, DeMarcus Cousins found out that he was negotiated during an interview with reporters after the All-Star game. A public relations representative had to whisper the news in his ear.
In February 2019, the Dallas Mavericks took Harrison Barnes out of the fourth half of a dispute because he distributed it to the Sacramento Kings. LeBron James had similar feelings to Green at the time, writing on Instagram: “So let me guess this is cool because they had to do what was best for the franchise right ??? … I just want this narrative start to get REAL / CHANGE. ”
Green said on Monday that “we continue to let that happen”.
“I was fined for stating my opinion of what should happen to another player, but the teams can go out and keep saying, ‘Oh, we are changing faces; we are not playing with you. ‘ And yet we must remain professional.
“At some point, as players, we need to be treated with the same respect and have the same rights that the team can have. Because as a player you are the worst person in the world when you want a different situation. But a team can tell you, they are changing you and that man must be in shape, he must remain professional, and if not his career is at stake. At some point, this league has to protect players from constraints like this. ”
Green, who spent his entire nine-year career with the Warriors, drew attention to the double pattern on the sides, saying they want an exchange. Teams can do this without any repercussions, as in the case of Drummond. Anthony Davis says publicly through his agent that he is requesting an exchange in January 2019 and will be fined $ 50,000.
Mental health aspect of NBA negotiations
The All-Star three times closed with comments on the mental health aspect of NBA negotiations and how players are treated when they are open and honest about their mental space.
Nets star Kyrie Irving took time off from the team in early January and told reporters when he returned that he was struggling with his mental health at the time. He was criticized for being absent.
Green added that being part of a trade, which is made public before it happens, can also be a drain on mental health and should be treated seriously. As the league said in the past, it would do for its players. Not being allowed to say certain things is also exhausting.
“Don’t you think it affects someone mentally? As much as we put in this game to be great, to come here to be in shape, to produce for the fans every night and most importantly to help your team win, do you think that doesn’t it affect someone mentally? But as players, we’re instructed, “Oh, you can’t say that, you can’t say that.” But can teams? It follows the same line as when everyone wants to say, can’t find out ‘, but nobody wants to say,’ The organization can’t find out. ‘At some point, players should be respected in these situations and that’s ridiculous and I’m tired of seeing that.
“Have a great night, everyone, see you tomorrow or Wednesday.”
More from Yahoo Sports: