i didn't think it was a fair trade. LA gets to save money, keep valuable trading pieces and gets a superstar; NOH gets crappy long-term contracts, semi-stars and no centerpiece to build around; Rockets get Gasol (good for them).
i normally wouldn't agree with Stern on this, but since the Hornets are a league-owned team...doesn't that mean that the league owners should have a say in their decisions?
from a basketball perspective, i think LA would've gotten worse actually. I think Odom and Gasol are such a huge part of what makes LA so good (which is being bigger than everyone else and having a bunch of skilled bigs). So if they take away their star center and their star bench player, while adding a ball-handler/playmaker which Kobe already does most of the time... i don't see how it would be a net benefit. Of course, if it's the next step to getting Dwight, then fine. It's brilliant.