Players want to play with friends, 1 of the top teams in the league, don't get up for a game against another top team, instead they won't even be in the city. The stars of the 90's even the early 00's, any other era for that matter would never have done this. Can you imagine Bird, Magic, Jordan, Thomas, Wilkins, Barkley, Olajuwon, Ewing, Shaq, Kobe, etc..... not playing against the defending champs and you are not injured, Wow!!!