Dwight Howard and 10 Other Players Who Recently Demanded to Be Traded [VIDEOS]
The NBA is abuzz over Dwight Howard’s demand to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
Howard’s not the first player to throw his weight around against his organization. In recent years, Chris Paul, Lamar Odom, Carmelo Anthony, and WNBA guard Cappie Poindexter forced their franchises’ hands to ship them out of town. But not all trade demands work out as well. Here’s a look at how some players have fared over the past year when they requested a way out:
CARSON PALMER
Frustrated with the direction the Bengals were headed, Palmer held out at the start of last season, and Cincinnati called his bluff. Finally, at the trade deadline, the team finally granted Palmer’s request and got rid of their former leader, sending him to the Raiders. Behind Andy Dalton, the Bengals went 9-7 without Palmer. The Bengals got back a first-round draft pick and another pick that could become a first-rounder. “The deal was a bold one for both teams, but it was a steal for the Bengals,” said The New York Times.
BOBBY RYAN
Late last month, Bobby Ryan surprised everyone, including the Anaheim Ducks, when he revealed that he’d like to get out. So far, the team hasn’t pulled off a deal, though Ryan has suggested that his hometown of Philadelphia is at the top of his list. Ryan is reportedly upset with the organization for not appreciating his output. “He seems to go through this a couple times every year, and usually the trade rumors involve the Flyers,” said one report. Stay tuned.
DEMARCUS COUSINS
It was the NBA soap opera that ruled for a week this past winter. After Sacramento Kings coach Paul Westphal sent rising star DeMarcus Cousins home for misbehavior that reportedly resulted in him asking for a trade, Westphal found himself on the losing end of the tiff with Kings’ management firing him later that same week. The team tried to downplay the fight between player and coach, and Cousins wound up denying he ever made the trade demand. Who to believe? Regardless, Cousins is once again the subject of trade rumors this offseason.
PERCY HARVIN
After Harvin asked the Minnesota Vikings to send him to another team last month, the team responded by saying it had “no interest at all in trading” the receiver.” The team was insistent that the story wasn’t over yet and they hoped to strike a deal with Harvin to keep him happy in Minnesota. Harvin never specified what it was that caused the strife, but everything seemed to get patched up by the end of last week. He was back in minicamp on Thursday. “It’s a new day today,” coach Leslie Frazier said.
MICHAEL YOUNG
After the Texas Rangers went to the World Series in 2010, they entered the 2011 season with high hopes — until star infielder Michael Young expressed disgust with how the team had treated him. “I asked for a trade because I’ve been misled and manipulated and I’m sick of it,” Young said. Just three weeks later, Young was singing a different tune, apparently having come to terms with his new role as a utility player, where he remains today.
RICK NASH
The face of the Columbus Blue Jackets said this winter that it’s time for a change after nine difficult seasons. In Nash’s defense, he’s tried to make his exit as tactful as possible, praising the organization and its fans. So far, Columbus has found no bites, and it’s believed that they are pursuing a big package in return for Nash that may include a frontline player, a top prospect and a No. 1 draft pick. The Rangers are reportedly in hot pursuit of the star.
BOBBY ABREU
During the offseason, the New York Yankees tried to trade for Abreu to become their everyday DH, but the Angels couldn’t get the job done when Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett vetoed the trade. That’s when Abreu demanded that the team either play him or send him somewhere he would. Unable to pull off a trade this spring, the Angels released him. His replacement? Rookie sensation Mike Trout. As for Abreu, he wound up with the nearby Dodgers where he’s been a surprisingly good fit.
MIKE JENKINS
The Dallas Cowboys cornerback skipped organized team activities in May as part of his holdout and says he wants to be traded. The team, however, won’t let Jenkins go that easy. “He’s making a business decision. We’re not going to trade him,” coach Jason Garrett said. Even with several teams reportedly looking to acquire the skilled DB, the Cowboys have held steady. It doesn’t look like the organization is going to bend very easily on this one, and Jenkins may have to find himself turning a new corner if he wants to stay a commodity in the league.
DREW STANTON
Sometimes teams are willing to work with a player’s grievance. If they’re willing to part with him, that is. When the New York Jets acquired quarterback Tim Tebow as a backup earlier this year, it left backup Drew Stanton wondering what his role would be. So he approached management and said he’d like to play somewhere he could compete for a starting job. Permission granted: the Jets shipped Stanton to the Colts. It cost two late-round picks, but Stanton is happier now that he’s backing up Andrew Luck instead of relegated to third-string. Of course, Luck might turn out to be the next Peyton Manning.
RYAN SMYTH
It was no secret last summer that Smyth wanted to return to the Edmonton Oilers for family reasons. And the Kings granted him his wish. Why did Smyth insist on going back there? It turned out that he and his wife decided that they wanted their kids to be raised there instead of Los Angeles or anywhere else. Outrage erupted among Kings fans who felt that Smyth had lied about his reasons for leaving, and they mocked him for being “homesick.” But the Kings got the last laugh when they won this season’s Stanley Cup.