Dan's Gilbert's email to Stern, "Paul trade is a travesty."

[jdpapa3]

I completely agree with that letter. 

It's good with the exception of a major gaffe.

He complains that the non-taxpayers will miss out on the tax the Lakers were going to pay and also complains about their ability to use a trade exception, which would make them pay tax again.

Other than that, I think it's strong. BBall writers seem to be clowning him, but I really do believe other owners feel this way about the trade.

[cman88]

look, the owners have been fed throughout the lockout from stern all this BS about "competitive balance" and then the lakers get another lopsided trade that gives them a 25yo superstar for some old players on the decline and no draft picks

the only differencei s that in this case, the NBA owners ARE the owner of the Hornets so they can veto this trade and they did.

people can argue that they didnt stop Melo from demanding a trade to the knicks, but its a different year, after the lockout. letting CP3 be a diva and demand where he is traded, and then the lakers create another dynasty prying DH from the magic....is not good for the rest of the owners in the nba.

[snively]

The financial aspect is key.  New Orleans absorbed a lot of salary in the proposed deal.  The only legitimate reason for the owners to veto it (the annihilation of cap flexibility). 

[byennie]

It's interesting how much attention is going to the Lakers' role in all of this. New Orleans, a team owned by the league (i.e. the other 29 owners), tried to trade their franchise player (Paul) in a deal in which:

1) They took on 3 players who will make $29M *next* year, none of which are All-Stars
2) Pau Gasol was the 2nd best player in the deal, and he was going to Houston
3) The only young talent they got was a 25 year-old backup PG.
4) No high draft picks (probably mid first round - the Knicks pick via Houston)

The thing is, the deal was fair for both LA and Houston. LA gave up two big pieces of a championship team. Houston traded 4 players to get Gasol. But collectively they were fleecing NO both in talent, and more relevantly financially.

I don't get the folks feeling sorry for the Hornets GM. He couldn't have blown this one any worse. Even a sane owner that was not THE NBA might have overruled him earlier.

What a mess.

[rondohondo]

It's interesting how much attention is going to the Lakers' role in all of this. New Orleans, a team owned by the league (i.e. the other 29 owners), tried to trade their franchise player (Paul) in a deal in which:

1) They took on 3 players who will make $29M *next* year, none of which are All-Stars
2) Pau Gasol was the 2nd best player in the deal, and he was going to Houston
3) The only young talent they got was a 25 year-old backup PG.
4) No high draft picks (probably mid first round - the Knicks pick via Houston)

The thing is, the deal was fair for both LA and Houston. LA gave up two big pieces of a championship team. Houston traded 4 players to get Gasol. But collectively they were fleecing NO both in talent, and more relevantly financially.

I don't get the folks feeling sorry for the Hornets GM. He couldn't have blown this one any worse. Even a sane owner that was not THE NBA might have overruled him earlier.

What a mess.

exactly tp

since the league owns the Hornets they would have been basically saving the Lakers from having to pay luxury tax and adding huge salary(for players on the downside of their career, who are borderline all-stars at best) to a team up for sale . How does that make any sense whatsoever for New Orleans? Not to mention the Lakers were getting a stud 26 yr old pg just entering his prime. Demps is a moron

rondo,green and picks is exactly the type of package a team rebuilding and up for sale they shold be looking for . With that package you get a 25 yr old pg in return under a very reasonable contract for the next 4 years , A young wing with potential in a contract year ( so you can see him play for your team for a year and then make a decision or simply let him go to clear more cap space) and probably a late lottery pick and a low 20's pick in next years loaded draft .

It makes total sense for them to veto this trade in my opinion

[bopna]

It's interesting how much attention is going to the Lakers' role in all of this. New Orleans, a team owned by the league (i.e. the other 29 owners), tried to trade their franchise player (Paul) in a deal in which:

1) They took on 3 players who will make $29M *next* year, none of which are All-Stars
2) Pau Gasol was the 2nd best player in the deal, and he was going to Houston
3) The only young talent they got was a 25 year-old backup PG.
4) No high draft picks (probably mid first round - the Knicks pick via Houston)

The thing is, the deal was fair for both LA and Houston. LA gave up two big pieces of a championship team. Houston traded 4 players to get Gasol. But collectively they were fleecing NO both in talent, and more relevantly financially.

I don't get the folks feeling sorry for the Hornets GM. He couldn't have blown this one any worse. Even a sane owner that was not THE NBA might have overruled him earlier.

What a mess.

exactly tp

since the league owns the Hornets they would have been basically saving the Lakers from having to pay luxury tax and adding huge salary(for players on the downside of their career, who are borderline all-stars at best) to a team up for sale . How does that make any sense whatsoever for New Orleans? Not to mention the Lakers were getting a stud 26 yr old pg just entering his prime. Demps is a moron

rondo,green and picks is exactly the type of package a team rebuilding and up for sale they shold be looking for . With that package you get a 25 yr old pg in return under a very reasonable contract for the next 4 years , A young wing with potential in a contract year ( so you can see him play for your team for a year and then make a decision or simply let him go to clear more cap space) and probably a late lottery pick and a low 20's pick in next years loaded draft .

It makes total sense for them to veto this trade in my opinion

Can we then officially say Demps is dumbass GM who thinks he is getting the best deal out there knowing Paul is walking anyway,   He could have just taken the Celtic Package if he really wanted to but no, He was waiting what the Fakers offer is since he was dictated upon perhaps by Paul that is the destination he wants to go.

[Moranis]

Gilbert is a whiny little ****.  That is the only story here.

It was absolutely a good deal for the Hornets.  They got three legitimate starters under reasonable contracts, who aren't that old (mostly).

I mean Scola is a 18/8 player at 31, Martin at 28 is a 23 point scorer and solid shooter, Odom at 32 is a 14/8/3 player.  Heck even Dragic is a solid backup PG at just 25.  They also got the Knicks 1st in the up coming draft.  That is a lot of talent to add to the Hornets for a player that is gone at the end of the year anyway.

[CoachBo]

I completely agree with that letter.  

It's good with the exception of a major gaffe.

He complains that the non-taxpayers will miss out on the tax the Lakers were going to pay and also complains about their ability to use a trade exception, which would make them pay tax again.

Other than that, I think it's strong. BBall writers seem to be clowning him, but I really do believe other owners feel this way about the trade.

It's not that bad in the context of the Pau Gasol Memphis trade, which was one of the biggest travesties in professional sports history. I completely disagree with Gilbert's characterization of that deal, except financially, and there's little question that the Paul deal would have eclipsed it.

And I pay no attention to the media on this subject, which is almost fan-like at the national level in his blind worship of the Lakers.

[Adelaide Celt]

This situation is a bit like a spoilt rich kid's Dad trading in his Ford and Volvo for a new Ferrari, only to have the dealership ring back 10 minutes later and tell them they have to give the Ferrari back because it goes too fast!

[footey]

This situation is a bit like a spoilt rich kid's Dad trading in his Ford and Volvo for a new Ferrari, only to have the dealership ring back 10 minutes later and tell them they have to give the Ferarri back because it goes too fast!

TP!!

[CDawg834]

Do you think Gilbert would be crying about unfair deals if New Orleans said "We'll take JJ Hickson for Chris Paul?"  He's just bitter because they had the sense to do what Gilbert didn't: get something back for their franchise player before he walks in free agency.  So now he's gonna gripe about every big name transaction, even ones that don't involve his team.

I also wonder what everyone would say if it was a Paul to Boston deal that got vetoed by the owners.  So is New Orleans only allowed to trade Paul to a small market team?

[LB3533]

If every other team's owner owns the Hornets, then so does the Lakers.

How, in theory do you make trades with yourself between two teams you own? No other teams should be allowed to trade with the Hornets then because the rest of the teams would lose out on their "own player".

This is just a crazy situation.

There is no way they are going to sell the Hornets.

[soap07]

It's not that bad in the context of the Pau Gasol Memphis trade, which was one of the biggest travesties in professional sports history.

In hindsight, I really don't see how anyone can make this claim with a straight face. The Grizzlies did quite well in that deal. Between the room it gave them to sign the ZBo's of the world, Marc Gasol has turned into a heck of a player.

[Marcus13]

Good letter.  Lots of valid points

[BudweiserCeltic]

From what I hearing, Gilbert's letter was sent after the Stern had already vetoed the trade, so it kinda makes a moot point as far as his impact on the decision.