For fans, trades have always been and will always be among the most exciting yet terrifying things to experience. But for players, the experience is more divisive. Behind every deal is a human side that rarely gets discussed, as chemistry between teammates suddenly disrupts and relationships change overnight.
Speaking on the "Between Two Beers" podcast, Steven Adams offered one of the most honest explanations of what the process actually feels like from a player's perspective. Known for his toughness and leadership, Adams pulled back the curtain on the emotional side of being a player, revealing how difficult even the smallest trades can be.
"I mean, that's always like a tough thing for players. Like that, Lance Thomas one that was a lesson I had to learn. That was tough for me. Such an amazing person for me, amazing player, and just like all-around good dude and whatnot," he shared .
"You just had to learn that it's literally out of your control, and then the relationship you grow with that player, it's still there, but it's just that they are somewhere else and you just don't have as many interactions," added Adams.
Adams further explains the helplessness that makes trades emotionally draining. Relationships can change in an instant, as teammates or even themselves can be traded, and it's even something surprisingly relatable.
"It's kind of like when you have a childhood schoolmate or something, and then you have to change schools, or you go to different intermediates. It's kind of like the same thing, so that was tough as a player," Adams stated.
The lifestyles of players create intense bonds because of how much time they really spend together. The reality is that trades disrupt that dynamic. And Adams knows this experience firsthand, as he has been dealt to different teams and cities several times during his career.
After years as a cornerstone for the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside stars like Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant , he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020. From there, he was moved again to the Memphis Grizzlies , where he spent two seasons before moving to the Houston Rockets , where he is the veteran presence in the paint.
As difficult as trades already are, Adams also revealed one modern detail that makes the whole experience difficult: the group chat. In today's league, where social media has become the forefront for trade announcements, the group chat has, in many ways, become an integral part of team chemistry while also being, unfortunately, an awkward place to know where you get traded.
"I'm a Samsung guy, but then I was forced to freaking buy an iPhone in Memphis. So I got that, and then I just figured this one out, where like everyone's in the group chat, and then you just see the notification like so and so's been removed," revealed Adams.
"That's what happened to me. I was a part of a group chat, and then it's just like I used to get notifications, and then it's just like no more notifications, like what happened?" he added.
Group chats have emerged as the place where players truly socialize and stay connected with one another, and have become universally relatable. Being removed from one has become one of life's most awkward and, frankly, devastating experiences. And the experience is no different for NBA players.
Related: Charles Barkley called Kobe Bryant "the best player in the NBA" amid 2007 trade rumors
Adams isn't the only player who has spoken about this awkward reality. Around the league, numerous players have shared stories about finding out they were traded through their group messages.
The most infamous one was Anthony Davis , who learned about the seismic deal that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic when Bronny James sent Shams Charania's now-iconic announcement tweet in their Los Angeles Lakers group chat .
The unpredictability of it all has made every relationship in the NBA, in some ways, inherently fragile. As front offices today grow increasingly impatient and trigger-happy with major deals, the reality is that trades are becoming more common, with news breaking on social media.
Unlike before, players now have more time to say goodbye to their teammates and the organization. Today, the first sign that their careers and lives are going to change is as simple as the group chat suddenly going quiet or, worse, getting frantic about a tweet.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
