Comments on: Chris Paul to Clippers deal dies, league’s demands too steep

By: mogogo1

mogogo1 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:47:56 +0000

They may or may not get somebody to give up the farm for Paul. But there are far larger questions involved than that:

1. Does anybody really believe that having the NBA own a team is a good idea? Here we have a team that apparently nobody wants–it’s in such sad shape that not a single self-centered billionaire can be found who’s got every other toy except a pro sports team. It’s bad for the league’s image and bad for the other teams to keep a floundering franchise afloat. It also sets a horrible precedent, given that supposedly a large chunk of teams are in the red. Are they willing to operate multiple teams, potentially at the same time?

2. Even if you’re okay with the league owning the Hornets, surely NOBODY out there can possibly believe it’s in the best interests of anybody to have Stern actively involved in running the team. He’s supposed to be the commissioner of the ENTIRE league and trying to rob the richer teams to appease the poorer ones and keep the dying Hornets afloat is a serious conflict of interest that is going to hang over him long after the Hornets ownership situation is settled. There should have been an independent entity appointed to serve as the de facto owner of the Hornets. Sure, people could have cried about that guy also having a conflict of interest, but at least it wouldn’t be the actual commissioner.

By: sonofsambowie

sonofsambowie — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:58:44 +0000

It’s not hurting the team yet. Not even close. They have all year to get this done and Stern is just being patient. And I can assure you, contraction is the last resort.

By: sonofsambowie

sonofsambowie — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:56:44 +0000

I think you’re confused. I’m saying Stern is holding out for the best possible deal, and banking that someone will pony up what they want. They almost got the Clippers to give them the farm, and they still might. He’s got all year to sit back and wait for someone to panic.

Bottom line is, David Stern is in control and he knows what he’s doing. Really, his moves here are genius:

http://sonofsambowie.blogspot.com/2011/12/forgive-me-david-stern-at-last-i-see.html

By: paesan59

paesan59 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:48:33 +0000

cowhawkfan, finally someone that sounds reasonable. Great post!!!!!!

By: gb4ever0811

gb4ever0811 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:52:50 +0000

This is a shame for the Hornets. They’re going to be left with nothing at all when Paul walks to LA in free agency next season. The first deal was by far the best, but now Odom’s been traded already. This is ludicrous!

By: deadeyedesign23

deadeyedesign23 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:35:56 +0000

Well the difference is the clear conflict of interest that exists with “the league” owning the Hornets. If you look at Gilbert’s letter he never once references the Hornets getting worse, it’s all about the Lakers getting better. They need to appoint someone to run the Hornets in the best interest of the Hornets in the interim and the league should have no say.

And with regards to Paul, I’m no lawyer so I don’t know how it would hold up legally, but other owners, because of their conflict of interest have essentially taken 20+ million dollars out of his pockets. I think you could certainly make an argument that this is restriction of interstate commerce, which would violate the antitrust exemptions.

By: cowhawkfan

cowhawkfan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:23:16 +0000

I don’t think Paul has a case. The NBA owns the team. The owner can veto any trades made by his subordinates. This is no different than Cuban vetoing a trade by Donnie Nelson. We may not agree with Stern, but so what…he’s the de facto owner.

By: cowhawkfan

cowhawkfan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:18:40 +0000

I don’t understand the big deal here. The owner’s of many teams veto deals their GM is trying to make. How is this any different? Stern is the de facto “owner” of the Hornets and wants more for a trade to ensure the franchise value stays high. He may be wrong about the trade valule of Paul, but that doesn’t make it collusion or a scheme on the part of the NBA. Perhaps someone will buy the team that can convince Paul to stay? Paul has said its not about the city, its about the “franchise and ownership”. If that’s true, a buyer could conceiveable convince him to stay.

By: jek027

jek027 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:09:02 +0000

Supposedly Gordon in the last year of his contract, if this is true then I can see why Stern is demanding more. It is not certain Gordon will stay long term either so essentially you are trading Paul for a draft pick and Aminu. Hardly a get

By: david8726

david8726 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:42:51 +0000

No, they won’t. No potential owner is going to be stupid enough to think to himself “Hey! If I buy the Hornets, that means CHRIS PAUL is gonna be on my team!”

He’s leaving at the end of this year, one way or another, and everyone knows it.

At this point, if Stern refuses to trade Paul somewhere, he’s actually hurting the value of the franchise because the situation there is in chaos and they will be left with nothing when Paul leaves.

I agree with what Chris Broussard said on ESPN earlier – At this point, it’s fair to start wondering if the league might even contract the Hornets after this year with the way things are going. Why else would they continue to make decisions that are actually hurting the team they own?

By: charlutes

charlutes — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:11:51 +0000

Everyone, throw tomatoes at David Stern!

By: sonofsambowie

sonofsambowie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:49:27 +0000

@Cuba: Not saying it’s guaranteed to work. Just saying that appears to be Stern’s strategy, and honestly I think if they are patient they’ll find a winning offer.

By: regacideking

regacideking — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:49:12 +0000

Completely insane

Sign this petition if you want David Stern gone.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fire-david-stern/

By: sonofsambowie

sonofsambowie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:47:52 +0000

Damn, time for me to get to bloggin’.

http://sonofsambowie.blogspot.com/

By: cubalakeshow

cubalakeshow — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:45:25 +0000

CP3 has made it clear hes not staying and their only other all star just left to Indiana so at the end of this year they will have noone of above average quality and their value to be sold will plummet even more. I’m sure someone will buy the Hornets eventually ….off the dollar menu

By: sonofsambowie

sonofsambowie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:44:03 +0000

Thanks. Honestly, I didn’t see it at first either. I’ve always been a Stern fan more or less but I saw his killing the Laker as him killing the best offer NO would get. What I now see is that Stern is thinking only about the ability to sell this team moving forward, and not the roster. Without Paul, the franchises’ value essentially plummets.

Now I see why he’s being so goddamn stubborn about it. He’s thinking you either hold out for every last thing you can squeeze from another team or you try to force Paul to resign there.

And honestly, I totally see his point.

By: lakepoinsett

lakepoinsett — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:32:41 +0000

OMG THAT is funny! I agree with bozosforall…this IS the POTD!

By: baboushka

baboushka — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:28:44 +0000

My comment below was targeted for your reply. I have no idea how it ended up there.

By: baboushka

baboushka — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:27:07 +0000

Know what? You’re right. Good point. It’s too easy to heap the blame sometime. That team could end up being sold to an investor in Seattle for example. And they would certainly want CP3 as a starting point. Great comment!

By: sonofsambowie

sonofsambowie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:21:14 +0000

Eh, take it easy with the racial thing. Like it or not, he’s just trying to protect the interests of a team that still needs to be sold. Without the right trade, who would want to buy that team without chris paul?

By: goforthanddie

goforthanddie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:20:47 +0000

Demps should quit, he’s wasting his time, poor guy. Paul should be suing the bejesus out of the league. And Stern better start making those retirement plans.

By: baboushka

baboushka — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:06:22 +0000

David Stern is looking more and more like the “Plantation Overlord” that Bryant Gumbel accused him of being on HBO’s Real Sports. He completely cut the legs from underneath the African American GM that he and the other owners put in charge of making deals for the Hornets. Stern’s behavior and conduct in the affairs of The Hornets and the NBA strike should receive the severest level of public and journalistic scrutiny. IMO he has way outlived his usefulness as an Objective Commissioner of the NBA. No one trusts him anymore. Time for him to go IMO.

By: iknowzeroaboutsports

iknowzeroaboutsports — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:59:11 +0000

Okay, “genius”, where does your reply say anything about whether he can prevail in a lawsuit, which was the point of my reply? FYI, “prevail” means “win”.

By: thetooloftools

thetooloftools — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:44:24 +0000

I’m quickly losing interest in the NBA. Wake me up when the playoffs start.

By: florida727

florida727 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:43:41 +0000

Guess again genius. It’s called a “right to work”. An NBA players’ contract does NOT preclude them from plying their trade wherever they so choose. Only that they fulfill their contract, which CP3 is doing. If I were him, I’d come down with some mysterious injury that doesn’t show up on an x-ray or MRI, just hurts enough to prevent me from playing.

By: florida727

florida727 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:39:29 +0000

Duck Favid Stern. The guy will single-handedly destroy the league thanks to his ego. If the owners had any balls, they’d sh*t-can this guy before he does any more damage. NOTE to CP3 legal team: sue him PERSONALLY, and the league collectively.

By: sonofsambowie

sonofsambowie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:38:30 +0000

Davis Stern wants to trade you Chris Paul and man, he’s got an offer you can’t refuse!

http://sonofsambowie.blogspot.com/2011/12/davis-stern-wants-to-trade-you-chris.html

By: iknowzeroaboutsports

iknowzeroaboutsports — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:29:30 +0000

Can you say “No evidence to prevail in a lawsuit?” Oh, wait, maybe the owners issued signed, written statements to each other documenting their collusion, saved copies and cc’d the nbpa.

By: 1historian

1historian — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:17:54 +0000

Can you say ‘LAWSUIT’ boys and girls?

By: sterko

sterko — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:15:38 +0000

Clip it, Hang it, Klitch it

Get a Klitch!

Theklitch!