Stern block Chris Paul trade to Lakers

[Elliotte Friedman]

http://eye-on-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/33762570

Thought this deserves its own thread.

What a horrible, horrible decision. Lakers/Rockets/Hornets make a fair trade and Stern blocks it because other owners complain. (League is running New Orleans.)

Embarrassing. If I was Paul, I'd explore legal options.

 

[derwood]

It's on hold.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

In the story I linked, Ken Berger calls it "dead." He may be wrong, but his work during the lockout was outstanding.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Don't understand the rationale here at all. Lakers are giving up Gasol and Odom. This isn't a Charlie Finley fire sale.

If the other owners don't like it, they should have made a better offer. And if they're just pissed he's going to L.A., get over it. Players want to go to a very small number of teams in the NBA, and the Lakers are on top of that list. It's always been that way and always will.

 

[derwood]

No legal recorse for Paul. All trades are subject to league approval.

 

[YGBFKM]

Wait, the lockout ended?

 

[YankeeFan]

Don't understand the rationale here at all. Lakers are giving up Gasol and Odom.

They were giving up Odom?

Kris Jenner & Ryan Seacrest probably got it canceled.

 

[Big Circus]

It's not about keeping him out of LA, it's about making sure that Paul doesn't leave New Orleans without the Hornets getting a similar drawing card back. The NBA - the Hornets' owner - is trying to sell the team, and they're much more attractive (and valuable) with Paul than they'd be with Odom and Scola.

 

[Spartan Squad]

Just reading the terms, it seems like New Orleans was getting the better end of the deal. They give up a good point guard, but got plenty of players to step in return and the Lakers are giving up some big-named players (albeit slightly passed their primes but certainly good talent). I'd get it if LA gave New Orleans a bunch of D-leaguers, but it doesn't seem like the case.

Other owners need to get over it.

 

[derwood]

It's not about keeping him out of LA, it's about making sure that Paul doesn't leave New Orleans without the Hornets getting a similar drawing card back. The NBA - the Hornets' owner - is trying to sell the team, and they're much more attractive (and valuable) with Paul than they'd be with Odom and Scola.

Free agent next summer. Stated numerous times he will not sign a new deal.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Sounds like a sop to the small-market owners for not getting the blood they wanted in the new labor agreement. This is bizarre, a league actively attacking one of its 2-3 cornerstone franchises.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

This is going to be interesting, derwood. Chris Broussard just reported that Paul is asking Billy Hunter if there are any legal grounds for him to contest the blockage.

I'd love to see this go somewhere.

 

[MileHigh]

Complete crap. Yes I'm a Lakers fan but WTF. Odom and Gasol traded. Again, complete garbage.

 

[derwood]

This is going to be interesting, derwood. Chris Broussard just reported that Paul is asking Billy Hunter if there are any legal grounds for him to contest the blockage.

I'd love to see this go somewhere.

NHLPA tried to get Scott Stevens arbitration ruling overturned and failed.

 

[LongTimeListener]

They can't just stack the Lakers, though. They get accused of it all the time anyway and with fairly good reason, the Pau Gasol trade being one recent example. So now who's to say the Lakers came up with the best offer? Point being there is no way the NBA can be evaluating trades like that for fairness to all and as an interested party.

Imagine if Selig had changed the balance of power in the league when MLB ran the Expos. There would have been a riot on the Internet.

 

[indiansnetwork]

This a big step in the right direction. The NBA can't undue all the wrong it has done in recent years with their thug/gang banging/controlling baby players but this should send a message that this crap will not fly anymore. The NBA is a horrible product and if they allowed this sort of thing it would ruin it even further which almost seems impossible to begin with. Most of the players belong in a jail cell basketball league anyway.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Boy, we've sure missed you.[/BLUE!]

 

[KYSportsWriter]

This a big step in the right direction. The NBA can't undue all the wrong it has done in recent years with their thug/gang banging/controlling baby players but this should send a message that this crap will not fly anymore. The NBA is a horrible product and if they allowed this sort of thing it would ruin it even further which almost seems impossible to begin with. Most of the players belong in a jail cell basketball league anyway.

Please crawl back into the hole you came out of.

 

[Stoney]

It's not about keeping him out of LA, it's about making sure that Paul doesn't leave New Orleans without the Hornets getting a similar drawing card back. The NBA - the Hornets' owner - is trying to sell the team, and they're much more attractive (and valuable) with Paul than they'd be with Odom and Scola.

Problem with that theory is the Hornets were gonna lose Paul at the end of the season anyways. Last year of his contract, remember? He's not re-signing with New Orleans and won't be part of the package when the franchise gets sold regardless.

 

[MileHigh]

Seriously how is this stacking?