The NBA players have made it known that they are firmly behind the late Eric Garner and his family as silent protests continue. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver while accepting of his players beliefs; has a slightly different stance.
SILVER WANTS PLAYERS TO STICK TO DRESS CODE
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver isn’t being harsh, he has rules that he has to abide by.
A lot of NBA players have made silent protests throughout the week, by donning “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts out of respect for the murdered Eric Garner, who uttered those last words before police in the States, who placed him under arrest for supplying and selling cigarettes without a licence, used an illegal restraint to kill him.
Via New York Times:
I respect Derrick Rose and all of our players for voicing their personal views on important issues, but my preference would be for players to abide by our on-court attire rules,” Silver said in an email Monday night.
Not every organization will be as supportive as the Cavaliers and the Nets. In James, Cleveland has the game’s biggest star. The Nets’ roster is filled with veterans and led by a supportive coach, Lionel Hollins. […] “They should be political,” Hollins said of his players. “They should be about social awareness. Basketball is just a small part of life. If they don’t think that there is justice, or they feel like there is something they should protest, then they should. That is their right as citizens of America, and I have no problem with that at all.”
(Jarrett) Jack described the players’ public stance as “almost like a civic duty,” adding, “We want people to know that we are not oblivious to what is going on around us.”
BROOKLYN THREE ON THE TRADE BLOCK
According to ESPN, Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez are all on the trade block.
Via ESPN:
The Brooklyn Nets have begun reaching out to teams to let them know that former All-Stars Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson are all available via trade, ESPN.com has learned.
League sources told ESPN.com that the Nets, off to a disappointing 8-11 start and looking to retool after last season’s $190 million roster filled with veterans couldn’t advance beyond the second round of the playoffs, have let it be known that they are prepared to move any of those franchise cornerstones in what would likely be separate deals if they came to fruition because of the high salaries each possess.
Sources say no trade is imminent involving any of the three players.
The exploratory discussions with various teams are the strongest indication yet that the Nets are looking to shake up their roster after a tumultuous 2013-14 campaign in which they started 10-21 under rookie coach Jason Kidd. But they did rally to reach the playoffs and beat the Toronto Raptors in a first-round series despite another season of ups and downs for Williams and the injury-plagued Lopez alongside Kevin Garnett and the since-departed Paul Pierce.
Yet sources insist that the Nets haven’t abandoned their recent “win-now mentality” and aren’t merely looking to dump salary. Brooklyn’s hope, sources said, is eventually to construct a deal or two that bring back sufficient talent that enables the Nets remain a playoff team.
RAPTORS HOLDING DRAKE NIGHT ON DECEMBER 17
The Raptors are hosting “Drake Night” on December 17 in honour of the team’s global ambassador, Drake. All ticket holders will receive a limited-edition OVO x Raptors t-shirt featuring the original Raptors logo and the number 95 (the team’s founding year).
