The trend in today’s NBA game is that players are gaining more power and control. It’s evident in the size of the contracts being handed out over the past two years and the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul having the power to dictate who they play for and under exactly what circumstances.
The players have also become more influential in the area of player movement. Players (more so than many general managers) now have the ability to recruit their counterparts to come play with them.
Many have criticized this practiced and likened it to AAU but in reality it’s more comparable to European soccer.