Chris Paul is a Laker

[koonja]

3 way trade, Lakers give up Pau Gasol and Lamar.

 

[SaltyND24]

AHHHHHHHHHHHH Crazy day in LA sports!!! I will greatly miss L.O. though...His versatility was huge for us! CP3 and next....DWIGHT HOWARD!!!!

 

[koonja]

Klohe's going to put on stress weight.

 

[SaltyND24]

Klohe's going to put on stress weight.

Especially with all that great food in New Orleans...Sheeeeesh!!!

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Horrible trade for the lakers in my opinion. They had the pieces in place to win a championship this year. With this trade, they get a little bit younger, and Paul and Kobe will be dynamic but their interior game is going to blow. Bynum cant stay healthy and is too inconsistent inside. Gasol was the perfect, PERFECT center in the Lakers offense. The PG doenst dominate the ball in their offense, and if anybody does it would be Kobe. I dont see how they get better in this deal.

Odom gave them great length, athleticism and depth. I think the Hornets are the winners in this deal bringin in a dynamic scorer in Kmart, and solidifying their post game with both Scola and Odom to complement Okafor.

Trade will not be finalized tonight, but still a bad deal for the Lakers IMO.

 

[Irish Man3]

Deal will not be completed tonight.

Not a done deal

 

[tadman95]

Won't they have a new style offense this year? Brown doesn't run the triangle offense does he?

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Deal's off.

 

[SaltyND24]

Won't they have a new style offense this year? Brown doesn't run the triangle offense does he?

That is correct...They will have a new style this year. I only disagree with this trade if they don't end up making a move to get Dwight Howard in town. Pau showed that he can get pushed around easily in last year's playoffs...Lamar, on the other hand, was a 6'10-11" guy who could run the point if needed. However, he was at times incosistent.

Trade w/o a Howard Deal: D+/C-

Trade + Howard Trade: A

 

[Sweetness34]

The deal might not happen now.

 

[SaltyND24]

David Stern most definitely will be winning the "Player Hater of the Year" award! This is absolutely terrible


GIFSoup

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

This is awesome for the league.

 

[NDPhilly]

Good for the rest of the NBA same 5 teams winning each year is part of what caused the downfall of the league.

 

[SaltyND24]

Good for the rest of the NBA same 5 teams winning each year is part of what caused the downfall of the league.

Then is it good for baseball that the Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies continually are able pick star players one by one by outspending teams like the Royals or the A's??? I don't hear anybody saying how much of a travesty it is that the Kansas City Royals' of the league don't stand a chance...just saying

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The deal would have involved a massive conflict of interest as the Hornets are currently owned by the League.

Once they find a private owner, if he chooses to trade Paul to the Lakers, there will be no problem. But Stern can't allow a League-owned team to trade away its best player to a large market dynasty like the Lakers without looking completely corrupt.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Another black eye for the NBA. smh

 

[BobD]

Stern kills Lakers' deal for Paul - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

 

[SaltyND24]

And they'll likely "find" a private owner after it becomes literally impossible for the lakers to make this deal. I read that the lakers have 2 yrs (more like 1 1/2yrs now) to make any kind of deal involving Paul and/or Howard. The thing I don't get in all this is that we legitimately gave up our frontline for Chris Paul. This wasn't a Pau Gasol for a Bag of Chips type of deal we had with Memphis...

 

[BeauBenken]

I didn't get the trade by the Lakers anyways (how can you give up all your interior big men for one PG?), but I don't watch or really care for professional basketball.

Also, the ESPN radio station that plays in the background of my NCAA 12 Football game wouldn't shut the hell up about Stern breaking this thing up because a bunch of owner bitched about it.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

David Stern is a dickbag. Is it ok to just overpay for Howard and Paul in free agency next year instead of give other teams expiring contracts and trade value to build their teams for the future?

I'm not an expert and not exactly dialed in to the contract situations of each player, but that momo needs to get a grip and understand that his league thrives when the classic teams are great. No disrespect to Tim Duncan, no one will remember that Spurs dyansty in the early 2000's. Ask anyone about Kobe and Shaq, Bird and McHale, Magic and Kareem, and now Lebrin and D-Wade. Fans and haters want to see those teams play. Let your league entertain. Idiot.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

And they'll likely "find" a private owner after it becomes literally impossible for the lakers to make this deal. I read that the lakers have 2 yrs (more like 1 1/2yrs now) to make any kind of deal involving Paul and/or Howard. The thing I don't get in all this is that we legitimately gave up our frontline for Chris Paul. This wasn't a Pau Gasol for a Bag of Chips type of deal we had with Memphis...

Cuz then you're trading Andrew Bynum and a night with Jeannie Buss for Dwight Howard.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Do you not see the massive conflict of interest inherent in causing a league-owned team to trade away its best player to a large market dynasty like the Lakers? It reeks of corruption.

Every owner basically controls 1/29 of the Hornets right now. Did 15+ of them get together and decide that this trade would best for the league? Of course not.

The real problem here is Stern's aversion to contraction. 30 teams is simply too many; there are lots of small market teams that can't ever hope to compete long-term with the Lakers, Celtics, etc.

 

[SaltyND24]

Cuz then you're trading Andrew Bynum and a night with Jeannie Buss for Dwight Howard.

Doesn't that technically balance out? Unfavorable deal for paul and a favorable one for Howard...Guarantee you the Magic will have no qualms with taking on an contract (Artest) and picks along with Bynum for somebody they WONT get a bloody cent for in a year's time...If it is all gravy by the new CBA and the teams agree, I don't see why you would kill the deal.

 

[NoTrE_dAmE_BrAhH]

I couldn't stop thinking of David Stern holding a pencil saying "Not so fast my friend."

 

[rikkitikki08]

Usually im a stern supporter but enough is enough, he is holding this league back. Im a huge pacer fan and i agree this is very wrong

 

[irishog77]

Do you not see the massive conflict of interest inherent in causing a league-owned team to trade away its best player to a large market dynasty like the Lakers? It reeks of corruption.

Every owner basically controls 1/29 of the Hornets right now. Did 15+ of them get together and decide that this trade would best for the league? Of course not.

The real problem here is Stern's aversion to contraction. 30 teams is simply too many; there are lots of small market teams that can't ever hope to compete long-term with the Lakers, Celtics, etc.

How does Stern look (as the de facto owner) then by allowing the team's best player to walk when his contract is up...receiving nothing in return? Doesn't it make him look like he's stacking the deck if he tries to swing a trade to some crap team or small market team? How does it make him look when he can't find another trade partner because Paul won't sign an extension with certain teams? How does it make him look when Paul, Billy Hunter, and the PA file a grievance and lawsuit against him? The Lakers are giving up 2 all-star caliber (or more) assets worth a lot more (certainly on paper) than Paul. The Hornets management wanted this trade and are happy with getting Martin, Scola, and picks in return.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

How does Stern look (as the de facto owner) then by allowing the team's best player to walk when his contract is up...receiving nothing in return? Doesn't it make him look like he's stacking the deck if he tries to swing a trade to some crap team or small market team? How does it make him look when he can't find another trade partner because Paul won't sign an extension with certain teams? How does it make him look when Paul, Billy Hunter, and the PA file a grievance and lawsuit against him? The Lakers are giving up 2 all-star caliber (or more) assets worth a lot more (certainly on paper) than Paul. The Hornets management wanted this trade and are happy with getting Martin, Scola, and picks in return.

Stern isn't the de facto owner. As I mentioned earlier, each of the other 29 owners owns 1/29 of the Hornets right now. The only way the trade could go forward is if at least 15 of the 29 owners agreed to it, and there's no way that's ever happening.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Stern isn't the de facto owner. As I mentioned earlier, each of the other 29 owners owns 1/29 of the Hornets right now. The only way the trade could go forward is if at least 15 of the 29 owners agreed to it, and there's no way that's ever happening.

Why not? If I were any team in the Eastern Conference not named Miami or New York, I would want one of the top 2 point guards in the league in the other conference, since I know he's not coming to me. That makes 13 teams. Add the Lakers and you would be one team away. Think Dr. Buss could persuade 1 team in the Western Conference?

Kobe has 5 good years left, maybe only 2 or 3 elite years. Getting Paul and Howard in LA certainly does not make them the de facto champions, just prime contenders to get there. I hope they find a way to make this work.

 

[irishog77]

The deal would have involved a massive conflict of interest as the Hornets are currently owned by the League.

Once they find a private owner, if he chooses to trade Paul to the Lakers, there will be no problem. But Stern can't allow a League-owned team to trade away its best player to a large market dynasty like the Lakers without looking completely corrupt.

Do you not see the massive conflict of interest inherent in causing a league-owned team to trade away its best player to a large market dynasty like the Lakers? It reeks of corruption.

Every owner basically controls 1/29 of the Hornets right now. Did 15+ of them get together and decide that this trade would best for the league? Of course not.

The real problem here is Stern's aversion to contraction. 30 teams is simply too many; there are lots of small market teams that can't ever hope to compete long-term with the Lakers, Celtics, etc.

Stern isn't the de facto owner. As I mentioned earlier, each of the other 29 owners owns 1/29 of the Hornets right now. The only way the trade could go forward is if at least 15 of the 29 owners agreed to it, and there's no way that's ever happening.

My response was more to your original post. When the league took over ownership of the Hornets, they allowed management in N.O. to have autonomy and act in the best interest of their (and only their) franchise (just like management at every other team). Blocking this trade goes back on that agreement the league set up with N.O management. There doesn't have to be 15 owners to approve the trade, at least there wouldn't of had to be until Stern whipped up this giant hoagie of a ****-sandwhich. I called David Stern the de facto owner because he represents the owners of the other 29 teams. Do Stern, that nut case Gilbert, and 28 other guys get together to decide how much to charge for tickets, what promotions to run, which shade of teal needs to be used in branding, etc? Hell no they don't. Then why are they getting involved in this so deeply? Stern isn't acting in the best interest of the Hornets by blocking this trade. In fact, blocking this trade actually does more DAMAGE than good for the well-being of the Hornets. Losing Chris Paul with no compensation (as will likely happen if they keep him on their roster) would be disastrous. Besides, nobody was forcing the Hornets to give away a player, they elected to do so. They were getting more than fair compensation in return. There was nothing reasonable about Stern blocking the trade. The only reason, it appears, was that he didn't want Paul going to the Lakers. Dig up the letter Dan Gilbert wrote to Stern regarding the trade. In it, he mentions nothing about what is in the best interest of the Hornets...which should be, as owners, their only concern. Instead his concern is his team and the Lakers. This whole situation reeks of collusion and Stern, before he causes an even bigger cesspool for he and Gilbert to swim in, should allow the trade to happen. Now Stern has made it necessary to consult him, the almighty overseer, on any player movement (drafts, 10 day contracts, D-League assignments and call ups, free agents, cuts, waives, injured list, and so on) the Hornets ever make again until another owner has full and total ownership of the team. That was not something he or the other owners wanted or desired when they bought the team.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I didn't get the trade by the Lakers anyways (how can you give up all your interior big men for one PG?), but I don't watch or really care for professional basketball.

Also, the ESPN radio station that plays in the background of my NCAA 12 Football game wouldn't shut the hell up about Stern breaking this thing up because a bunch of owner bitched about it.

They didn't give up all of their interior big men. They still have Bynum, were going to get Emeka Okafor in return and they plan on trading for Dwight Howard.