Chandler "max deal" Parsons is healthy and wants to play. Isaiah Thomas wants to play (and not in the G-League). Melo wants to play. Melo and Isaiah are both on Vet Minimums right now. Isaiah b/c of his hip surgery and rehab and Melo b/c he was bought out of his max deal. But I think the overall premise stands...once you sign the dotted line the team owns you. Can sit you, trade you, etc. If other people think that's unfair or bush league, free agents will stop coming there.
The NBA is built on box office visibility. Not a bunch of chubby guys producing cutting defining statistics or anonymous pumped up jocks bashing their skulls together. Daily play produces premium content which equals T.V. rating and higher revenue dollars. Anthony Davis sitting out directly affects that (esp. in that market.) Now AD being hurt or having a contact dispute... that's something the media can spin with the common fan. But his team sitting him because of ill will from a failed move to LA.... that shit doesn't fly. The league office would rather they booed AD than turn off the channel.
The only reason the NBA exists and the players make so much money is because fans are willing to pay to watch them and all of the merchandising that goes along with it. Fans need to be able to watch the players they pay to see. At least when it comes to sitting players long term. I think when a player demands a trade, their pay should be stopped immediately and should not continue until they are on a new team.
It will indeed be interesting to watch how this plays out. Pretty sure they will essentially Vonleh him.
If I was the Pel's I would start him and about 20 secs into the game I would sub him out and not put him in for the rest of the game.
The Pelicans are going to lose TV money next year anyways no matter how much they play or don't play AD. Playing him as little as possible makes the most sense and I believe most fans will understand.