NBA Blocks Chris Paul Trade to Lakers

[Ohbie]

I saw this on ESPN.com last night and it's pretty shocking.  Apparently there was a three deam deal in place between the Lakers, Hornets and Rockets.  The Lakers would've gotten Paul, the Rockets would've received Gasol, and the Hornet were set to get Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Odom, Goran Dragic and the Knicks first round pick.  That seems like a pretty good haul for a guy who is probably going to walk at the end of this season where the Hornets would get nothing in return. 

Apparently a lot of the owners were against the trade and pressured Stern into blocking it for what the league calls 'basketball reasons'. 

While as a Bulls fan I don't like the idea of face the Lakers with Kobe and Paul, it seems like the league overstepped its bounds last night in blocking this trade.  It should make for an even more interesting start to training camp today with the players due to report after they were about to be shipped off last night.

Here's the story from ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7333285/los-angeles-lakers-deal-acquire-chris-paul-off)

[MUMac]

The NBA owns the Hornets.  Not sure if that is the reason they stepped in or not.  I don't see that as overstepping.  The excuse, yes, the action, not since they own the Hornets.

Also demonstrates why you do not want a league to own a team.

[Hards Alumni]

The NBA owns the Hornets.  Not sure if that is the reason they stepped in or not.  I don't see that as overstepping.  The excuse, yes, the action, not since they own the Hornets.

Also demonstrates why you do not want a league to own a team.

It is an absolute overstep.

May as well let the GM go if Stern is going to step in and block trades that make sense for all parties involved.

[Ohbie]

The league had said that the Hornet's management would operate without interference from the league. 

Nixing the trade puts the Hornets in a worse situation so it seems like Stern didn't want to this happen based on league's best interests.

[LON]

Dan Gilbert wrote another letter, calling the trade a "travesty."

This time, he used "big boy" font and not Comic Sans.

EDIT:  NBA = Poorly run fantasy league

[JWags85]

Buzz going around is that Stern didn't like Paul calling his own shots.  If so, he is losing sight of his role as a commissioner and getting a bit drunk on power.  Especially with the reports of bullying during the lockout.

[jesmu84]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7334835/the-sixth-day-nba-christmas

opinion by simmons on the trade rejection.

total conflict of interest by the nba to own one of it's own franchises. another complete level in blocking a defensible trade. david stern has to go.

[jesmu84]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7334410/dwight-howard-ask-orlando-magic-trade-new-jersey-nets-sources-say

if stern blocked the paul trade because he didn't like paul calling his own shots, he has to block this potential trade too, right?

[MUMac]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7334410/dwight-howard-ask-orlando-magic-trade-new-jersey-nets-sources-say

if stern blocked the paul trade because he didn't like paul calling his own shots, he has to block this potential trade too, right?

Based upon what I have read and heard, the reason for the involvement was the NBA owning the Hornets.  I know the trade did not happen, and to some this is semantics, but I believe they told the Hornets they could not make the trade.

Some believe they did not want the trade made until a new owner is in New Orleans.  I don't know if they believe they are close or not.

If the league became involved with any other team for the reasons cited in your post, that would be really problematic for the future of the league. 

I have never been a fan of Stern, but I would hope the involvement was solely due to the ownership of the team and not meddling in all teams afairs.  When you read the comments by some of the players involved, this is going to be a mess for some time.

[reinko]

I think these three teams should try over and over and over again to make this trade.  Make the NBA and the owners reject it every time.

[jesmu84]

Based upon what I have read and heard, the reason for the involvement was the NBA owning the Hornets.  I know the trade did not happen, and to some this is semantics, but I believe they told the Hornets they could not make the trade.

my only qualm with this thinking, is clearly paul was leaving new orleans. whether through trade now or free agency at the end of the season. one focus of the new CBA was "competitive balance" between big market and small market teams. wouldn't it make new orleans more competitive to acquire several good players and cash for their superstar instead of getting nothing when he leaves?

[Ohbie]

I think these three teams should try over and over and over again to make this trade.  Make the NBA and the owners reject it every time.

There are now reports that the Hornets, Rockets and Lakers are appealing the decision by the NBA to block to the trade.  This is getting interesting.

[GGGG]

my only qualm with this thinking, is clearly paul was leaving new orleans. whether through trade now or free agency at the end of the season. one focus of the new CBA was "competitive balance" between big market and small market teams. wouldn't it make new orleans more competitive to acquire several good players and cash for their superstar instead of getting nothing when he leaves?

Agreed.  The Hornets actually made out pretty well on that deal considering.

[MUMac]

my only qualm with this thinking, is clearly paul was leaving new orleans. whether through trade now or free agency at the end of the season. one focus of the new CBA was "competitive balance" between big market and small market teams. wouldn't it make new orleans more competitive to acquire several good players and cash for their superstar instead of getting nothing when he leaves?

I agree.  Don't get me wrong, I am not supporting that thinking, just trying to understand it.  I also thought the trade would help NO, even if Paul had decided to stay. 

[shiloh26]

1. Its funny when billionaires complain about the rich getting richer.  I call "SOCIALISM" on them! 

2. If you didn't want to pay for the Hornets running like an actual basketball team, then you should have let them fold. 

3. Dan Gilbert is an a$$hole.  Turning the rest of the league into "the Washington Generals?"  C'mon.  Take some responsibility.  It makes sense that one of the best teams (Lakers) has the pieces to trade for a superstar.  It should not be the leagues' job to create parity. 

[dwaderoy2004]

I think these three teams should try over and over and over again to make this trade.  Make the NBA and the owners reject it every time.

Actually, if I were the hornets GM, I would try and trade Paul for peanuts just to say eff you to the owners.  This was a good deal for NO, better than what Denver got for Carmelo.  They would compete for a playoff spot and give them pieces to trade later if need be.  I have a feeling that the decision will be reversed and the trade will go through.  Stern and the nba are getting KILLED right now in the media, and this sets just an awful, slippery-slope precedent.

[MerrittsMustache]

1. Its funny when billionaires complain about the rich getting richer.  I call "SOCIALISM" on them! 

2. If you didn't want to pay for the Hornets running like an actual basketball team, then you should have let them fold. 

3. Dan Gilbert is an a$$hole.  Turning the rest of the league into "the Washington Generals?"  C'mon.  Take some responsibility.  It makes sense that one of the best teams (Lakers) has the pieces to trade for a superstar.  It should not be the leagues' job to create parity. 

One of the major sticking points during the lockout was that the small market owners felt like they wouldn't be able to compete with places like Chicago, LA, NY and Miami when it came to re-signing their own marquee players. The situation was supposedly resolved to some extent, yet before training camp even begins, there are two marquee players begging to get away from their "small market" teams to go to LA and NY. This was a no-win for Stern, primarily because of his own ineptitude during the lockout.

[shiloh26]

One of the major sticking points during the lockout was that the small market owners felt like they wouldn't be able to compete with places like Chicago, LA, NY and Miami when it came to re-signing their own marquee players. The situation was supposedly resolved to some extent, yet before training camp even begins, there are two marquee players begging to get away from their "small market" teams to go to LA and NY. This was a no-win for Stern, primarily because of his own ineptitude during the lockout.

You're correct.  But you can't accept the CBA and then cry to the commissioner that the CBA didn't fix the problem.  You had the chance to do the best you could, its over, and you can't claim "unfairness" after the fact. 

[MUBurrow]

One of the major sticking points during the lockout was that the small market owners felt like they wouldn't be able to compete with places like Chicago, LA, NY and Miami when it came to re-signing their own marquee players. The situation was supposedly resolved to some extent, yet before training camp even begins, there are two marquee players begging to get away from their "small market" teams to go to LA and NY. This was a no-win for Stern, primarily because of his own ineptitude during the lockout.

Yup, this is definitely true. Its kind of hilarious that the first time it came up was the only time that Stern realistically could have done anything about it anyway - with the league owned team. What if Dwight had been dealt first, then 4 or 5 days later the Paul trade had gone through? Does Stern veto it then?

Also pretty pathetic the way the NBA is running the Hornets. Its like the guy in your fantasy league that stops paying attention to his team, and the 1/10th of the player universe that happens to be on his team is dead to everyone else. This proves there is no "plan."  West is gone, Paul will be gone next year. The owners bitch if they take on salary in the Thornton trade. They bitch if they try to go cheap and rebuild by trading Paul. What is in this team's future? Signing 15 one year contracts per year of the cheapest mid-level free agents out there? Pathetic.

[jesmu84]

anyone else reading the "12 Days of NBA Christmas" on grantland.com? All written by Bill Simmons. Entertaining reads.

[Ohbie]

I've been reading them.  Getting 12 NBA articles in a week and a half from BS almost made the lockout worth it.