Three days before the 2019 NBA Trade deadline buzzed at 3 p.m. ET, the Dallas Mavericks introduced Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke to their local media. It’s a tradition as old as any amongst the league’s trade season, and far predates rumor mongering on social media. When a superstar is dealt, he is welcomed with a flashy press conference, beaming behind a podium, uttering platitudes about fresh starts and promising futures. And he is almost always flanked by role player teammates who are asked virtually no questions and hardly even utter a word.
After Superstar Trades, Introductory Press Conferences Can be Awkward for Role Players
