Carter Clause

[maes]

This might be old news, but i found it hilarious.

His name will go down in history.

"Carter clause in the works
Link: TheStar.com - Carter clause in the works.

I've mentioned before that the league may look at implementing some kind of rule or fine system that will prevent players from publicly demanding trades. It's a practice that was the downfall of the Toronto Raptors ability to get a good deal for Vince Carter, a player who was not playing with heart and demanded a trade through the media.

Deputy commissioner Russ Granik said:

Particularly in the last year or so, we've been hit with a lot of players saying, you know, `I don't want to play here any more, trade me,'" Granik said during a news conference before Game 2 of the NBA Finals. "We just don't think that's appropriate when a player has a contract in place."

"I think we're in agreement (with the union) on that point. How we legislate it, we haven't figured out yet, but I think we may try to do that as well when it comes down to doing (a collective bargaining agreement) draft.""

[Colin]

Hahaha.

I think it's a good idea, those public demands are just the product of spoiled athletes.

[cyanide]

I hope they call it that, the Carter Clause. Serves him right

[MaD_hAND1e]

hmmm.... related to this.. kinda... why did they call it the Bird rights and how did that come about?

[Andrew]

I was always under the impression it was because Larry Bird and the Celtics were at the forefront of making it a provision for veteran players to be able to re-sign with their current team for a lot of money despite the team being over the cap, though that might be just NBA folklore.

I sort of like the idea of fining players who publically demand trades, but at the same time shouldn't players have the right to express themselves and to seek better employment? Perhaps the provision could be made for teams to fine players who demand trades in a manner that upsets or embarrasses the team, if they can't do so already.

[fgrep15]

lol, their's been so many players that demanaded trades, even in the last 2 years alone. Tmac, Carter, Webber, Peja, Baron, G-Rob, Jim Jackson, Alonzo, and some role players that people didn't really care if they demanded trades.

[Bang]

Well I don't think the league can do that because of the so called "freedom of speech" (although in reality speech is barred in many ways, but people will try to incorporate this with freedom of speech and say the policy is unjust bla bla bla.). I can just imagine it now, those Americans going "oh this is an outrage. Who is to say what we can say or not. Who made David Stern king of the world? This is unconstitutional in every way!" Then the NBA will go to court and the supreme court will probably rule against it.

[Andrew]

At the same time players have obligations and responsibilities, though. Perhaps teams should have the right to take action against players if they engage in really inappropriate public conduct in regards to trade demands ie. really running down the organisation and making inappropriate comments...but not for simply asking to be traded.

[Sauru]

i myself am sick of seeing players demanding trades. wanna demand a trade? then do it in private like any of us would when asking for a raise or whatever. somethings need to be private.

[Andrew]

I agree, though even private trade requests/demands leak to the media. It's one thing to ask to be traded, another to go public taking shots at the organisation. While the latter should be discouraged and possibly penalised, I don't think it's unfair for the players to be able to do the former.

[Jackal_]

That's an awesome clause imo. Pisses me off when "Franchise Players" lower themselves to get a trade. Then the receiving team gets SHIT. *cough*Carter*cough*

[maes]

Just to be pedantic, Freedom of Speech is your right as a US Citizen not as a NBA employee.

You can say whatever you want, but the US government does not force private entities to agree w/ you, the private entities are entitled to their own opinion, which may mean severing their relationship w/ you.

Bottom line, Vince Carter the US Citizen can say whatever he wants.
Vince Carter the NBA employee must abide by the rules of the NBA, it's perfectly legal for the NBA to release Vince Carter based on his actions, and then Carter can then exercise his free speech rights as private individual.

[Matt]

exactly, the NBA has it's own consitution and if so decides that players cant publicly announce their trade desires then no one can do anything about that,

I like this idea.

[Andrew]

That's true, but the players still have various rights as negotiated by their union and rules are in place that prevent teams or the league voiding player contracts without good reason.

Though just to re-state my point of view, I'm all for players being penalised for going public with an ugly verbal attack on their organisation and public trade demand. However, I don't think they should be penalised for approaching management and asking to be traded. Any leaks to the media should be handled on a case by case basis.