Athletes asked to get traded all the time. Sometimes, it's because they're unhappy with the way their team is playing. Other times, it's because they know the team they're with won't be able to pay them when their next contract negotiation rolls around. And the rest of the time, it's because they're simply not happy playing where they're at.
NBA superstar Chris Paul is the latest player to make a trade demand. According to reports, he's asked the New Orleans Hornets to trade him--and trade him now--to the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers or Orlando Magic so that he can compete for an NBA championship next year. But Paul's obviously not the first high-profile NBA baller to make waves by demanding that his team ship him out of town. Hit the jump to take a look at 11 other NBA players who caused some controversy when they demanded trades from their teams.


The Demand: S-Jack made his intentions crystal-clear to the Golden State Warriors (and received a $25,000 fine from the NBA) during the summer of 2009 when he told the team he wanted to be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets or San Antonio Spurs. "At this point, I'm 31 years old," he told Dime. "I have four or five years left. I want to be in a situation where I can continually be in the playoffs and get another ring."
The Result: Instead of dealing Jackson to one of the teams he requested, the Warriors sent him to the Charlotte Bobcats in November 2009 along with Acie Law in exchange for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic.

The Demand: Unlike the other players on this list, former New York Knicks guard Robinson didn't actually demand a trade himself. He had his agent do it. But it still ranks as controversial because he also received a $25,000 fine from the NBA despite the fact that his agent was the one who spoke to the media in New York and told them that his client wanted to be traded.
The Result: The Knicks relented at first, refusing to trade Robinson. But they finally gave in and traded him to the Boston Celtics in February 2010 along with Marcus Landry in exchange for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker.

The Demand: After years of speculation surrounding Carter's future with the Toronto Raptors, the electrifying guard told the team he'd like to be traded in September 2004. "It's just time for me to look after me," he told the Toronto Star.
The Result: It took a few months, but the Raptors finally conceded to Carter's demands in December 2004 when they moved him to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and a pair of first-round draft picks.

The Demand: In December 2007, Pip surprised the Chicago Bulls by asking the team to trade him immediately. But reports also surfaced later that the Bulls had been interested in trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers almost two weeks before he made the demand. "I think I've been treated very unfairly through this organization, and it's gotten to the point now, I don't see myself carrying on with it," he told the New York Times.
The Result: The two sides eventually came to some sort of agreement not to trade Pippen and he won his sixth NBA title in 1998. He was traded the following year to the Houston Rockets to play alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley.

The Demand: Though he didn't make it nearly as publicly as other players on this list, A.I. demanded a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers in early December 2006 and sat out a portion of the season until he got it.
The Result: The Sixers moved Iverson and Ivan McFarlin to the Denver Nuggets later that month for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-rounds picks. Iverson eventually rejoined the team last season before taking a leave of absence from the Sixers towards the end of the season.

The Demand: Kidd helped the New Jersey Nets reach the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, but after several subpar season, one of the league's best point guards asked out of the Garden State in January 2008. "We tried to make this work," he told ESPN The Magazine. "We have found out it doesn't. It is time for us all to move on."
The Result: In a blockbuster February 2008 trade, the Nets send Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright to the Dallas Mavericks for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, Keith Van Horn, two first-round picks and $3 million.

The Demand: After winning the NBA's Most Valuable Player award in 1978 despite being sidelined for a portion of the season with a foot injury, Walton demanded a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers. The oft-injured Walton cited unethical and incompetent treatment of his injuries by the Blazers' front office.
The Result: The Blazers actually refused to trade Walton and he sat out the following season in protest. He signed with the San Diego Clippers in 1979 after becoming a free agent.

The Demand: Like Walton, Hakeem the Dream was upset with Houston Rockets management for the way they handled a hamstring injury he suffered during the 1992 season. "I would not like to play for the Rockets next season," he said in March 1992. "It's so obvious after all that's happened." The Rockets allegedly believed Olajuwon was faking a hamstring injury as a contract negotiation ploy.
The Result: The two sides settled their differences after the season and Olajuwon continued his career with the Rockets. He led the team to two NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.

The Demand: Despite his All-Star caliber seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, the team struggled to advance very far in the NBA Playoffs and missed them altogether during the 1991-92 season. So Sir Charles asked the team to trade him.
The Result: The Sixers traded Barkley to the Phoenix Suns in July 1992 in exchange for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang.

The Demand: During an interview in May 2007, Bryant told 1050 ESPN Radio in New York that he wanted to be traded by the Los Angeles Lakers. "Tough as it is to come to that conclusion, there's no other alternative, you know?" Bryant was reportedly upset that the Los Angeles Times had reported that he was the reason Shaquille O'Neal had been traded away from the team. He was also unhappy with the direction the team was headed.
The Result: If you're an NBA fan, you already know the end to this story: Kobe's demand went nowhere and the Lakers are poised to make a run at a third straight NBA title next season.

The Demand: Out of respect for fans of the Milwaukee Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar never spoke ill of the team and didn't make a big fuss when he demanded a trade to either the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks. But the dominating big man did make it perfectly clear that Milwaukee was not where he wanted to play in October 1974 when he asked management to move him.
The Result: The Bucks agreed to trade him and, in 1975, they sent him to the Lakers along with Walt Wesley for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman. Abdul-Jabbar went on to win five NBA titles with the team.

Do you remember an NBA trade demand that didn't make this list? Leave a comment in the box below and let us know!