CJ McCollum appeared on a recent episode of “The Woj Pod” podcast. The newly elected president of the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) has a bone to pick with the Miami Heat. In his discussion with Adrian Wojnarowski, the Blazers guard expressed concerns about teams withholding players’ rights during free agency. CJ McCollum used the Kendrick Nunn situation as an example.
�[Kendrick Nunn] was gonna be a free agent. They basically waited until the money dried up, right? You correct me if I�m wrong. Have you (Wojnarowski) seen this happening in the league and not being discussed at all? Where they talk about players forcing their way out, player movement. But then what about the manipulation that goes into some of these situations where teams are waiting for the market to dry up before they release a player�s rights.�
CJ McCollum
In this era of increased player empowerment, CJ McCollum suggests that the work must continue, as players like Kendrick Nunn remain at a disadvantage in some cases. On top of player affairs, McCollum also discussed replacing Chris Paul as president of the NBPA, the future of NBA superteams, his backcourt mate Damian Lillard, and more.
Imbalance in NBA free agency
The NBA and its players have struggled to find a neutral ground for player movement. As the Players Association’s president echoes concerns about restricted free agents’ rights, the league tends to issues regarding the unrestricted. The NBA recently announced an investigation into the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls. For Miami, the league will look into their acquisition of Kyle Lowry. Meanwhile, the Bulls face the same fate regarding their pickup of Lonzo Ball.
Due to their anti-tampering rules, the league believes it necessary to investigate these situations. Such actions express a need to suppress player empowerment. However, CJ McCollum’s words signal a desire to strengthen it. These differing perspectives display a slight disconnection between the league and its players. We’ll have to wait and see how it’ll translate moving forward.
