The difference is one is within the rights of the teams stipulated by the CBA - to trade players, to cut players, etc. with all of the ensuing repercusions for it. The other is NOT. In fact, if I'm not mistaken the NBA actually has a rule AGAINST players asking for trades and there are fines within the CBA for such behavior(at least this was in the previous CBA). When a player signs with a team they do it with the express understanding that they can be traded within the rules of the CBA, unless they have a no trade clause, which Dame does NOT have.