Professional athletes switch teams and cities at a moment’s notice while fans, traditional media, and social media churn to keep track of every move. February 2023 may go down as one of the wildest trade seasons in the history of the NBA, with 28 teams trading 58 players.
This deftly humorous spot titled “Traded”–which was conceived by agency Venables Bell + Partners (VB+P) for client Opendoor, a digital real estate platform–taps into that pro sports dynamic through a player press conference, showing what happens when an athlete finally stops giving boilerplate answers and starts speaking their mind about the often sensationalized topic of trades. In doing so, Opendoor highlights the universal truth that whether you’re a superstar or a regular Joe or Jane, moving remains one of the most stressful experiences in life.
Clay Weiner of Biscuit Filmworks directed “Traded” for Opendoor, an official sponsor of the Phoenix Suns, an NBA team which recently traded for a superstar and as a result has become a leading contender for the league championship.
In “Traded,” an athlete gives an unbridled assessment of the difficulties of being traded and having to move himself and his family to a different city. His tone softens, though, when a reporter informs him of Opendoor and the ways it can make the process much easier.
