Does This Look Like The Face Of A Bitter Owner Who Wrote An E-Mail To David Stern Saying That CP3 To The Lakers Would Be A "Travesty"?

Commissioner,

It would be a travesty to allow the Lakers to acquire Chris Paul in the apparent trade being discussed.

This trade should go to a vote of the 29 owners of the Hornets.

Over the next three seasons this deal would save the Lakers approximately $20 million in salaries and approximately $21 million in luxury taxes. That $21 million goes to non-taxpaying teams and to fund revenue sharing.

I cannot remember ever seeing a trade where a team got by far the best player in the trade and saved over $40 million in the process. And it doesn't appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard. (They would also get a large trade exception that would help them improve their team and/or eventually trade for Howard.) When the Lakers got Pau Gasol (at the time considered an extremely lopsided trade) they took on tens of millions in additional salary and luxury tax and they gave up a number of prospects (one in Marc Gasol who may become a max-salary player).

I just don't see how we can allow this trade to happen.

I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do.

When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?

Please advise...

Dan G.

Dan Gilbert is like the borderline ugly girl in college who strikes gold freshman year and starts hooking up with the new "it" guy on campus who doesn't know any better. Only that relationship quickly fades, her looks diminish and she spends the remainder of her time in school "talking about the good old days", obsessing over the past and trying to bring everyone else down to her miserable level. That is Dan Gilbert in a nutshell. From his Comic Sans tirades, to his bitching and moaning about a FAIR trade, this guy has proven time and time again that he is nothing more than a bitter ex. A spurned lover. A cry baby and a mega-douche.

I got drunk last night. I went out with some friends, had some drinks, watched a shitty football game and talked about the Chris Paul trade. I must have annoyed the people I was with to no end because every time our conversation got stagnant I would say the same thing. "I can't believe that just happened". And I still can't believe that happened today. On paper (and on the court) it was a fair trade all around. Sure the Lakers were getting one of the leagues best players but it was nothing like the deal they had pulled off for Pau in 2008. This time around the price was right. Giving up Gasol (a top 15 talent) and the Candyman (a 15/8 vet who provided invaluable depth for those late 2000's Lakers teams) was a risky move, but regardless it was a risk L.A. was willing to take to obtain their targeted superstar. Combine that with what the Hornets would have walked away with (LO/Kevin Martin/Scola/Dragic + 1st rd pick) and the cap space Houston would have acquired (a team that was heavily pursuing Nene) and everyone walks away a winner.

Everyone except, you know, David Stern and his minion army of bitter owners who felt that this trade went against everything they had just battled for during the lockout. They didn't want players to have the say about where they play anymore. One last "eff you" if you will. So David used his almighty commissioner powers and stopped the trade from going through. With one swift, iron fisted move, he cost himself his reputation, and robbed us all of a chance to see Chris Paul run the Showtime 2.0 Lakers. It sent out the wrong message, that he and only he has the FINAL SAY in all basketball moves. This league is no longer a democracy, and now instead of asking "What just happened?" I find myself wondering "What happens next?". I guess Stern himself is the only person who can truly answer that question. And that realization my friends, is a scary one.

-fresh (@danye33)