Home|Sports|Kai Jones requests trade; could be finedSports
Sheldon LongleySend an emailOctober 10, 2023 290 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
Once again, Bahamian professional basketball player with the Charlotte Hornets Kai Jones is in the news, and once again, it could have a damaging effect as it is being reported that he could be fined up to $150,000.
Jones, a swingman with the Hornets, announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he has officially requested a trade from the organization. However, according to the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association’s (NBPA) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), with respect to trades, any player who publicly expresses a desire to be traded to another team shall be subject to a fine and/or a suspension. Section 18 of the CBA goes on to state that the maximum fine that may be imposed by the NBA on a player pursuant to the foregoing shall be $150,000.
Two Saturdays ago, the Hornets announced that Jones, a 6’ 11” forward/center, would not join the team for training camp due to “personal reasons” and is indefinitely away from the team. Prior to that announcement, Jones released a series of videos on social media in which he acted strangely, rambled incoherently, and was critical of teammates. It was described as indecipherable for the most part, but deemed inappropriate and damaging to his tenure with the Hornets, and by extension, his career in the NBA.
Shortly afterwards, the Hornets separated itself from the Bahamian big man.
Drafted in the first round (number 19 overall) out of Texas in 2021, Jones signed a four-year deal worth $13,421,215, all of it guaranteed. He is in the third year of the deal and will reportedly earn a guaranteed $3.05 million this season after the Hornets picked up their third-year option on his rookie scale contract.
Now, Jones wants out of Charlotte, stating so publicly, and the Hornets have declined to comment on the matter.
Jones posted: “I have officially requested a trade from the Charlotte Hornets. #Goatlife”. It’s not his first mention of the GOAT (Greatest Of All-Time) reference as he has stated that he is the GOAT and plans to be the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and defensive player of the year in the NBA, and he also wrote that he would beat Los Angeles Lakers’ star LeBron James in a one-on-one game.
Jones also wrote that he is a better shooter than two of his teammates, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, saying, “I’ve had a higher field goal percentage than those guys since I came out the womb and none of them can guard me so know your ball before you talk.”
His latest post requesting a trade is undoubtedly in response to his non-invitation to training camp.
Regarding his absence at training camp, the team released a statement. It read: “Kai Jones will not participate in training camp due to personal reasons. There is currently not a timetable for his return to the team. Out of respect for the personal nature of the situation, the Hornets will not have any additional public comment regarding the matter at this time.”
In two seasons, Jones has averaged 2.7 points and two rebounds in 67 career games with Charlotte.
The NBA preseason is underway and opening day is set for Tuesday, October 24.