Chris Paul should sign with the Lakers in the off season

[Moranis]

Just to say a big f u to David Stern, Dan Gilbert and the like.  I know he won't get the big money contract, but he should do it anyway. 

What is just odd is that it was vetoed in a large part to show the players that they can't dictate where they can play, but the reality is that was the best deal the Hornets were offered for Paul.  They got three legit starters in their primes, a young backup PG, and a 1st round pick.  That is a pretty good trade.  Had Golden State given up Curry or the Clippers given up Gordon he would have gone to those teams. 

Now the Hornets can't trade Paul anywhere (unless there is a new owner quickly) and he will walk at the end of the year for nothing.  Talk about killing the franchise's value, which was supposedly being protected.

From this article http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiXOhrBY0ue6S9RBWJ1gfsI5nYcB?slug=aw-wojnarowski_chris_paul_lakers_hornets_nba_120811

“We were all told by the league he was a tradeable player, and now they’re saying that Dell doesn’t have the authority to make the trade?” said an NBA executive who had periodic talks with New Orleans throughout the process. “Now they’re saying that Dell is an idiot, that he can’t do his job. [Expletive] this whole thing. David’s drunk on power, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the players, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the hundreds of hours the teams put in to make that deal.

“How do the Lakers explain this to Odom? How does Houston deal with the guys it just tried to trade? Scola and Martin are going to be p---ed at them, and who knows how long that takes to get over? Explain to me how the league kills this Pau Gasol deal, but allows Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol?

“To me, this makes the league feel like it’s rigged, that Stern just does whatever Stern wants to do. He’s messed up the competitive balance of this league a lot worse by killing the deal because you’ve completely destroyed the planning that New Orleans and Houston did and left them in shambles over this. I’ve never been so discouraged about this league, never so down.

“I mean, come on: Chris Paul is leaving New Orleans in 66 games. He’s gone. And what’s Dell Demps, and that franchise, going to have to show for it?”

[footey]

Just to say a big f u to David Stern, Dan Gilbert and the like.  I know he won't get the big money contract, but he should do it anyway. 

What is just odd is that it was vetoed in a large part to show the players that they can't dictate where they can play, but the reality is that was the best deal the Hornets were offered for Paul.  They got three legit starters in their primes, a young backup PG, and a 1st round pick.  That is a pretty good trade.  Had Golden State given up Curry or the Clippers given up Gordon he would have gone to those teams. 

Now the Hornets can't trade Paul anywhere (unless there is a new owner quickly) and he will walk at the end of the year for nothing.  Talk about killing the franchise's value, which was supposedly being protected.

From this article http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiXOhrBY0ue6S9RBWJ1gfsI5nYcB?slug=aw-wojnarowski_chris_paul_lakers_hornets_nba_120811

“We were all told by the league he was a tradeable player, and now they’re saying that Dell doesn’t have the authority to make the trade?” said an NBA executive who had periodic talks with New Orleans throughout the process. “Now they’re saying that Dell is an idiot, that he can’t do his job. [Expletive] this whole thing. David’s drunk on power, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the players, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the hundreds of hours the teams put in to make that deal.

“How do the Lakers explain this to Odom? How does Houston deal with the guys it just tried to trade? Scola and Martin are going to be p---ed at them, and who knows how long that takes to get over? Explain to me how the league kills this Pau Gasol deal, but allows Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol?

“To me, this makes the league feel like it’s rigged, that Stern just does whatever Stern wants to do. He’s messed up the competitive balance of this league a lot worse by killing the deal because you’ve completely destroyed the planning that New Orleans and Houston did and left them in shambles over this. I’ve never been so discouraged about this league, never so down.

“I mean, come on: Chris Paul is leaving New Orleans in 66 games. He’s gone. And what’s Dell Demps, and that franchise, going to have to show for it?”

I think it is naive to assume that Dan Gilbert has the ability to nix a trade.  I'm sure there were at least a dozen owners who expressed similar outrage to Stern, otherwise he would not have taken this draconian measure. Gilbert just happened to express it well in his email.  The league owns the Hornets, and has the right to veto the trade for reasons going beyond what is best for the Hornets (by the way, do not agree that getting three older decent players who can't play D for the best PG in the league, and granting tons of cap relief to the Lakers, was a good deal).

[Moranis]

Just to say a big f u to David Stern, Dan Gilbert and the like.  I know he won't get the big money contract, but he should do it anyway. 

What is just odd is that it was vetoed in a large part to show the players that they can't dictate where they can play, but the reality is that was the best deal the Hornets were offered for Paul.  They got three legit starters in their primes, a young backup PG, and a 1st round pick.  That is a pretty good trade.  Had Golden State given up Curry or the Clippers given up Gordon he would have gone to those teams. 

Now the Hornets can't trade Paul anywhere (unless there is a new owner quickly) and he will walk at the end of the year for nothing.  Talk about killing the franchise's value, which was supposedly being protected.

From this article http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiXOhrBY0ue6S9RBWJ1gfsI5nYcB?slug=aw-wojnarowski_chris_paul_lakers_hornets_nba_120811

“We were all told by the league he was a tradeable player, and now they’re saying that Dell doesn’t have the authority to make the trade?” said an NBA executive who had periodic talks with New Orleans throughout the process. “Now they’re saying that Dell is an idiot, that he can’t do his job. [Expletive] this whole thing. David’s drunk on power, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the players, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the hundreds of hours the teams put in to make that deal.

“How do the Lakers explain this to Odom? How does Houston deal with the guys it just tried to trade? Scola and Martin are going to be p---ed at them, and who knows how long that takes to get over? Explain to me how the league kills this Pau Gasol deal, but allows Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol?

“To me, this makes the league feel like it’s rigged, that Stern just does whatever Stern wants to do. He’s messed up the competitive balance of this league a lot worse by killing the deal because you’ve completely destroyed the planning that New Orleans and Houston did and left them in shambles over this. I’ve never been so discouraged about this league, never so down.

“I mean, come on: Chris Paul is leaving New Orleans in 66 games. He’s gone. And what’s Dell Demps, and that franchise, going to have to show for it?”

I think it is naive to assume that Dan Gilbert has the ability to nix a trade.  I'm sure there were at least a dozen owners who expressed similar outrage to Stern, otherwise he would not have taken this draconian measure. Gilbert just happened to express it well in his email.  The league owns the Hornets, and has the right to veto the trade for reasons going beyond what is best for the Hornets (by the way, do not agree that getting three older decent players who can't play D for the best PG in the league, and granting tons of cap relief to the Lakers, was a good deal).

Scola has the same DRTG as Battier, second best on the Rockets behind Chuck Hayes.  Only Bynum had a better DRTG than Odom on the Lakers last year.  I think you are underestimating their defense. 

The Hornets would have been adding 63.9 p, 22.6 r, 10.5 a, 2.8 s, 1.7 b, and 7 t per game by giving up just 15.9 p, 4.1 r, 9.8 a, 2.4 s, .1 b, and 2.2 t per game.  Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

[footey]

Just to say a big f u to David Stern, Dan Gilbert and the like.  I know he won't get the big money contract, but he should do it anyway. 

What is just odd is that it was vetoed in a large part to show the players that they can't dictate where they can play, but the reality is that was the best deal the Hornets were offered for Paul.  They got three legit starters in their primes, a young backup PG, and a 1st round pick.  That is a pretty good trade.  Had Golden State given up Curry or the Clippers given up Gordon he would have gone to those teams. 

Now the Hornets can't trade Paul anywhere (unless there is a new owner quickly) and he will walk at the end of the year for nothing.  Talk about killing the franchise's value, which was supposedly being protected.

From this article http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiXOhrBY0ue6S9RBWJ1gfsI5nYcB?slug=aw-wojnarowski_chris_paul_lakers_hornets_nba_120811

“We were all told by the league he was a tradeable player, and now they’re saying that Dell doesn’t have the authority to make the trade?” said an NBA executive who had periodic talks with New Orleans throughout the process. “Now they’re saying that Dell is an idiot, that he can’t do his job. [Expletive] this whole thing. David’s drunk on power, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the players, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the hundreds of hours the teams put in to make that deal.

“How do the Lakers explain this to Odom? How does Houston deal with the guys it just tried to trade? Scola and Martin are going to be p---ed at them, and who knows how long that takes to get over? Explain to me how the league kills this Pau Gasol deal, but allows Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol?

“To me, this makes the league feel like it’s rigged, that Stern just does whatever Stern wants to do. He’s messed up the competitive balance of this league a lot worse by killing the deal because you’ve completely destroyed the planning that New Orleans and Houston did and left them in shambles over this. I’ve never been so discouraged about this league, never so down.

“I mean, come on: Chris Paul is leaving New Orleans in 66 games. He’s gone. And what’s Dell Demps, and that franchise, going to have to show for it?”

I think it is naive to assume that Dan Gilbert has the ability to nix a trade.  I'm sure there were at least a dozen owners who expressed similar outrage to Stern, otherwise he would not have taken this draconian measure. Gilbert just happened to express it well in his email.  The league owns the Hornets, and has the right to veto the trade for reasons going beyond what is best for the Hornets (by the way, do not agree that getting three older decent players who can't play D for the best PG in the league, and granting tons of cap relief to the Lakers, was a good deal).

Scola has the same DRTG as Battier, second best on the Rockets behind Chuck Hayes.  Only Bynum had a better DRTG than Odom on the Lakers last year.  I think you are underestimating their defense. 

The Hornets would have been adding 63.9 p, 22.6 r, 10.5 a, 2.8 s, 1.7 b, and 7 t per game by giving up just 15.9 p, 4.1 r, 9.8 a, 2.4 s, .1 b, and 2.2 t per game.  Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

fair point regarding their defensive acumen. But what about the age trade off and salary cap relief? 

[Marcus13]

He will.  Good.  That's the way it's supposed to work in FREE AGENCY.  The point is players shouldn't be able to bully their franchises into trading them to certain teams

[CelticG1]

You really think NO makes out well in that trade? 3 starters I are the NBA shouldn't get you a top 5 mvp type player in his prime. Not to mentionscola and Odom are 32....

I don't think the deal was absurd but they don't get any sort of star in the deal nor any prospects

[Chelm]

You really think NO makes out well in that trade? 3 starters I are the NBA shouldn't get you a top 5 mvp type player in his prime. Not to mentionscola and Odom are 32....

I don't think the deal was absurd but they don't get any sort of star in the deal nor any prospects

Now on the other side of the coin, they get an angry CP3 for 66 games, and then... nothing.  You can't blindly compare the players (though I'd still argue that this is a fair trade on the court), you need to compare the two options.

Luis Scola
Lamar Odom
Kevin Martin
Goran Dragic
2 draft picks

vs.

1 year of CP3...

[CDawg834]

You really think NO makes out well in that trade? 3 starters I are the NBA shouldn't get you a top 5 mvp type player in his prime. Not to mentionscola and Odom are 32....

I don't think the deal was absurd but they don't get any sort of star in the deal nor any prospects

Better than nothing, which is what they'll get now.

[LB3533]

Dan Gilbert is a basket case, he needs to get out of this business. He's not a man, he's a pansy.

By default, when teams make trades, it is to make their teams better for either the now or the future. Trades between two or 3 parties should not benefit outsider teams.

Outsider teams should be scared or angry by these trades because this is a freaking competition.

You don't cry about it and do the "woe is me" schtick.

Now if every trade that is made and results in a letter to the commish opposing these said trades...what a joke this whole process will be and has become already.

 

[Moranis]

You really think NO makes out well in that trade? 3 starters I are the NBA shouldn't get you a top 5 mvp type player in his prime. Not to mentionscola and Odom are 32....

I don't think the deal was absurd but they don't get any sort of star in the deal nor any prospects

I think it was a very good deal for a player everyone knew you had to trade and it was the best offer on the table.  It is a better deal then Rondo (or whatever Rondo would have brought from a third team).  Once Curry and Gordon were no longer options, the Hornets took the best offer and frankly they did well considering the totality of the circumstances.

They got 3 solid all around players that are in their prime (granted Scola and Odom are on the wrong side of 30, but still in their primes).  Martin is a superb scorer something that team needs and you get a solid banger/scorer down low in Scola and mr. do everything in Odom.  Plus you pick up a young PG and a draft pick.  A solid trade for the Hornets given their situation.

[libermaniac]

Better than nothing, which is what they'll get now.

I disagree.  I'd rather let Chris Paul walk and start over with lots of cap space, and a few bad years worth of lotto picks, then take on 3 good, but nowhere near great, players who make a combined $28MM or s and will tie up all cap flexibility.  If this trade goes through, New Orleans will be mired in mediocrity for years to come.  Not where you want to be in the NBA.  Very short-sighted trade by N.O.

[Rondo_is_better]

He will, and the Lakers will get to keep some of the pieces they were trading away, leaving them more stacked than if the trade had been allowed to go through.

[Kane3387]

Just to say a big f u to David Stern, Dan Gilbert and the like.  I know he won't get the big money contract, but he should do it anyway. 

What is just odd is that it was vetoed in a large part to show the players that they can't dictate where they can play, but the reality is that was the best deal the Hornets were offered for Paul.  They got three legit starters in their primes, a young backup PG, and a 1st round pick.  That is a pretty good trade.  Had Golden State given up Curry or the Clippers given up Gordon he would have gone to those teams. 

Now the Hornets can't trade Paul anywhere (unless there is a new owner quickly) and he will walk at the end of the year for nothing.  Talk about killing the franchise's value, which was supposedly being protected.

From this article http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiXOhrBY0ue6S9RBWJ1gfsI5nYcB?slug=aw-wojnarowski_chris_paul_lakers_hornets_nba_120811

“We were all told by the league he was a tradeable player, and now they’re saying that Dell doesn’t have the authority to make the trade?” said an NBA executive who had periodic talks with New Orleans throughout the process. “Now they’re saying that Dell is an idiot, that he can’t do his job. [Expletive] this whole thing. David’s drunk on power, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the players, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the hundreds of hours the teams put in to make that deal.

“How do the Lakers explain this to Odom? How does Houston deal with the guys it just tried to trade? Scola and Martin are going to be p---ed at them, and who knows how long that takes to get over? Explain to me how the league kills this Pau Gasol deal, but allows Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol?

“To me, this makes the league feel like it’s rigged, that Stern just does whatever Stern wants to do. He’s messed up the competitive balance of this league a lot worse by killing the deal because you’ve completely destroyed the planning that New Orleans and Houston did and left them in shambles over this. I’ve never been so discouraged about this league, never so down.

“I mean, come on: Chris Paul is leaving New Orleans in 66 games. He’s gone. And what’s Dell Demps, and that franchise, going to have to show for it?”

No GM gets to execute deals without being approved by ownership, so I don't know why Demps would think he could... He did his job in setting up and presenting a deal, but he doesn't have final say over a deal. No GM does.

[barefacedmonk]

Not that Dan Gilbert has more pull than the other owners, but he sent that email after the deal had been vetoed already.

As for Dan Gilbert email obtained by Y! Sports, timestamp shows he didn't send to Stern until after 10 PM ET. Trade already had been killed.

@WojYahooNBA

[Moreover]

For the MLE? To play with an aging core?

If Paul enters free-agency, I think there's a good chance he just re-signs with New Orleans. He won't throw away $25 million.