The Questions GMs Ask

The NBA has been busy the last couple of weeks with the NBA Draft and the start of free agency. Many players have switched teams, and the rosters now look significantly different following several trades.

One of the deals included the first-ever seven-team trade that resulted in the Rockets acquiring Kevin Durant and Clint Capela. They had to give up the 10th pick in the draft, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and five second-round picks.

Other notable moves included the Magic trading for Desmond Bane and relinquishing significant draft capital, the Nuggets acquiring Cameron Johnson and parting ways with Michael Porter Jr., and the Celtics trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to save money.

I’d be fascinated to hear the conversations within and between front offices before these deals take place. Before teams pull the trigger on any trade, General Managers must consider what players they’re willing to part with on their rosters.

I imagine that as GMs call each other to propose deals and offer trades, the most common questions are, “What are you willing to give up?” and “What players are you willing to let go of?”

These conversations help determine the seriousness and willingness to make a trade, as well as the passion behind acquiring a particular player.

GMs understand that to receive a player they need, they have to give up something of importance or a player they’ve valued, so they can get what’s ultimately best for their team.

They finally get to the point of realizing it’s worth the sacrifice to receive what makes their team better.

“What are you willing to give up?” or “What are you willing to let go of?” aren’t only questions for GMs but ones that we can ask ourselves daily as followers of Jesus.

If we genuinely want to follow Him closely, we must be willing to let go of what He asks us to, so we can receive all of the many spiritual blessings He wants to give us.

Ultimately, we’ve traded our former life for the life we now have in Christ. We have to understand that to trust Him as Lord of our life, we must give up some things we once valued or viewed as essential to receive what’s ultimately best for us.

So, each day, we must make the necessary sacrifices and surrender anything that hinders us from fully experiencing and wholeheartedly enjoying Jesus and the life He has available to us.

Are we willing to give up our worry for God to give us peace? Will we let go of bitterness and anger so we can receive joy? Will we sacrifice temporary selfish pleasure to experience abundant satisfaction in Jesus?

Will we give up our love for money so we can love God with all of our hearts? Will we allow Him to replace our pain with comfort? Will we trade our worldly mindset for a heavenly one?

1 Peter 2:1 (NLT) says, "So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.”

Will we trade our prideful and defiant hearts for a humble and repentant heart?

Psalm 51:17 (AMP) declares, "My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.”

Paul states in Romans 12:1-2 (ESV), “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Let’s not hold onto the things we no longer need or the thoughts and attitudes that hinder us from living a holy, renewed, and transformed life. No matter what we give up or trade away, we know that God’s will and spiritual blessings are far superior.

Today, let’s choose to be living sacrifices as our response to the trade Jesus already made when He gave up His life for ours on the cross.

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful that You care enough to allow me to trade my pain, selfishness, and bitterness for the spiritual blessings found in You. Please give me the strength to surrender and sacrifice for Your purposes, and help me remain in Your will. I’m so thankful to receive Jesus! In His name, I pray, Amen.