| Over the last 3 or 4 years, there have been a few | | | | salaries of the players being traded must match. |
| huge trades that have stirred the NBA pot and made | | | | That's why Kevin Garnett was traded to the Celtics |
| things a little more exciting. But that is just it, there | | | | for 6 players - Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al |
| were only a few. Shaq went to Heat, Iverson went | | | | Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastia Telfair and a 2009 |
| to the Nuggets and Garnett went to the Celtics. Not | | | | Draft Pick. That was half of Boston's team. Now, as |
| only did these trades benefit Miami, Denver and | | | | the LA Lakers try to trade Kobe Bryant, a player |
| Boston on the court, but their respective | | | | whose salary is equal to the GDP of many small |
| pocketbooks received a huge lift as the incoming | | | | countries, it is going to take a miracle to pull off. The |
| stars have attracted more and more fans to the | | | | Lakers wanted to trade him to the Bulls, but getting |
| arenas. So, if there are so many upsides to | | | | both teams to agree upon which players are |
| high-profile trades, why don't they happen more | | | | equivalent in terms of talent and salaries is a very |
| frequently? The answer? The NBA has a ridiculous | | | | difficult process. I bet that if the Bulls had the option |
| trade policy. | | | | to pay straight cash for Kobe, they would do it in a |
| Unlike other sports where a team can simply buy out | | | | heartbeat. However, they cannot. So, at least for |
| the contract of opposing teams' players, the NBA's | | | | now Kobe will remain a Laker. |
| trade policy makes things a little more difficult. For | | | | In my opinion, the NBA should change its rules. |
| instance, when Iverson went to the Nuggets, he | | | | Matching salaries is just ridiculous. If a team or player |
| went there along with Ivan McFarlin. In return, the | | | | wants to implement a trade, there should be as few |
| 76ers got Andre Miller, Joe Smith and 2 future draft | | | | obstacles in their way as possible. However, for the |
| picks. Do you think that the Nuggets necessarily | | | | time being that is not the case. Consequently, NBA |
| cared about Ivan McFarlin at the the beginning of the | | | | fans may see fewer and fewer trades and more and |
| trade talks? No Way! So, why was he included? | | | | more disgruntled superstars in the future if things do |
| Because according to the NBA trade policy, the | | | | not change. |