NBA’s Austin Rivers says Lillard-Heat situation is ‘bad for the league,’ as James Harden chimes in

MIAMI — In recent weeks, the pushback amid Damian Lillard trade speculation has been about the perception of Miami Heat hubris regarding having a clear path to the Portland Trail Blazers All-Star point guard.

But now there also is pushback from within the player fraternity, with free-agent guard Austin Rivers questioning elite NBA players designating trade landing spots while still under contract elsewhere.

“I don’t like when stars do that,” Rivers said on his Off Guard with Austin Rivers podcast, “because it’s just like what does every other player do? So because you’re a good player, like you just don’t have to show up?”

In the wake of pushback to snippets of his podcast, Rivers, an 11-year veteran, stressed that the entirety of his position be considered.

“Regardless of how good of a player you are, the NBA, it’s a privilege,” said Rivers, son of long-time NBA coach Doc Rivers and brother-in-law of Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry. “And if you’re a free agent, then you can choose where you’re going to go. That’s the business, But when you’re not, and you sign a deal, man, that’s part of the business, bro. If you get traded somewhere, you go to go play.”

Rivers has been traded six times during his NBA career, with the Minnesota Timberwolves his most recent stop.

“Regardless of how good of a player you are, the NBA, it’s a privilege,” he said. “And if you’re a free agent, then you can choose where you’re going to go. That’s the business, But when you’re not, and you sign a deal, man, that’s part of the business, bro. If you get traded somewhere, you go to go play.”

Such trade requests/demands while under contract have become a trend in recent years, including from Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons, and now from Lillard and again from James Harden, who this time is looking to move on from the Philadelphia 76ers while under a contract he opted into in June.

“And this started with like James and Ben and all these guys doing this,” Rivers said. “It’s bad for the league.”

Interestingly, among those who have chimed in on the Lillard situation is no less than Harden.

“I see both sides of it, because I went through it to where the organization wants to do what’s best for them,” Harden told USA Today Sports. “They don’t want to just give a player that basically is one of the best players they’ve had in their organization away for nothing or for less. So I get the organization’s side.

“And then I get the players’ side, as far as wanting to play and wanting to be somewhere, whether it’s because it’s the right situation for you, for your family, or yourself or whatever that person is going through. So I see both sides. So if they can meet in the middle and kind of come to an agreement and figure it out, then that’s like the best scenario.”

For his part, Rivers stressed his perspective was not a direct salvo at Lillard.

“But, yeah, it’s a scary dynamic when stars start acting like this,” he said. “And I’m not a big fan of it, I’ve got to be honest with you. And I’m a big fan of Damian. Everyone knows. I mean, I’ve had so many battles with him. I’ve been in many playoff series against Damian. And he’s probably one of the hardest players I’ve ever had to guard in my entire life.”

Lillard, 33, is due nearly $200 million over the next four seasons, when factoring in the two-year extension had negotiated with the Blazers.

For Rivers, the Lillard test case comes at a time when the league’s rich are getting richer and journeymen are being caught by the nuances of the new collective-bargaining agreement that took effect on July 1.

“This is why our CBA deal that we just signed and I don’t even want to get heavy into that,” Rivers said, “don’t even get me started on that deal that we’ve got going, because it’s top heavy. That’s why you’re seeing all these teams right now, where you either make $50 million of two. And it’s the most lopsided contract.

“I mean it’s a joke, bro. I can’t tell you how many mid-level guys are signing for vet minimum around the NBA. It’s laughable.”

Moving on

Undrafted Marist center Patrick Gardner, who played summer league with the Heat, has agreed to a training-camp tryout contract with the Brooklyn Nets, likely to eventually be funneled to the Nets’ G League team.