Dan Gilbert wrote complaint letter to David Stern to block the CP3 trade to Lakers

[Rose]

The following is the email in its entirety:

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

[chazzy]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]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

[stallionaire]

Lol Dan Gilbert being a ****ing crybaby dumbshit as usual.

[InspiredLebowski]

Good money on this being fake.

Pretty obvious really, no comic sans.

[bagelred]

This is NOT a joke:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-nba_dan_gilbert_email_lakers_hornets_trade_120811

[talkingconch]

still sour about lebron leaving

[Meticode]

Danny and his comic sans font. I swear...

[bagelred]

The irony of this is unbelievable. From the man who's team had the best player in basketball for 7 straight years.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Wow

[G-train]

Good money on this being fake.

Pretty obvious really, no comic sans.

:roll: :roll:

[Allstar24]

Why don't these owners worry about their own teams? At the risk of sounding like a 8 year old...everyone is so jealous of the Lakers and I actually believe it now...this is crazzy.

[InspiredLebowski]

:roll: :roll:I'm serious about Yahoo probably getting trolled

[Rose]

Good money on this being fake.

Pretty obvious really, no comic sans.
I agree really. I can't see someone in the NBA office letting this one slip out. Although, if he really did this. I gotta respect this guy for wielding so much power.

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

wow

[WeGetRing2012]

Why don't these owners worry about their own teams? At the risk of sounding like a 8 year old...everyone is so jealous of the Lakers and I actually believe it now...this is crazzy.

I dont understand the jealousy. We were giving up PAU GASOL & ODOM. Just 4yrs ago they were livid that we got him now hes not good enough to give up. They are always gonna hate us...

[shadow]

This makes no sense if true. He's completely ignoring the fact that Lakers would give Paul an Extension and thus not actually save much in the way of $$$ in the deal.

[bluechox2]

when its your money, what would u do?

i know id want my cut of the 20 million when my team already sucks
get a new house sumwhere in the islands

[chazzy]

Wow, he's complaining that the Lakers pay $20M less luxury tax and so less money would shared amongst non tax paying teams.. as if that's a legitimate reason to nix the trade? This whole thing is f*cking weird.

[comerb]

basketball decisions huh? I'm not sure what articles are in place to protect the league in this scenario, but there is obviously some extreme conflict of interests here w/ the owners. CP3 might have a pretty good legal case here if he pursues it.

The bottom line is, all the teams involved come out better than they would otherwise. W/out some sort of trade committee in place in the CBA, the league is out of line by denying a trade based on solely on the other teams owners not liking it

[bagelred]

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.

Pau Gasol says "remember me"?

He's only made the All Star team 3 years in a row. Nothing to see here.

[YAWN]

So they key to the other teams owners panicking was because they saw the possibility of Dwight signing on for Bynum as well?

I thought Stern said he had no contact with the other owners and the NBA office made there decision based on "basketball reasons".

[El Kabong]

He did pretty much highlight why I think it was a bad trade for the Hornets though. Didn't even get rid of Okafor or Ariza, while taking on more salary than before.

[Batz]

http://i.qkme.me/35g8hh.jpg

[Meticode]

Pau Gasol says "remember me"?
Chris Paul is obviously the best player in the trade. Not sure what's to argue here.

[dbugz]

This is why CP3 aint going anywhere.

If team "X" proposed a trade other teams are going to veto it and vice versa. :oldlol:



Anyway, where are they getting this letter? isn't this supposed to be confidential?

[Kblaze8855]

I really hope that isnt real.

[bagelred]

Chris Paul is obviously the best player in the trade. Not sure what's to argue here.

By far? He's not Kwame Brown.

[shadow]

I really hope that isnt real.


I so hope it is...

[comerb]

This makes no sense if true. He's completely ignoring the fact that Lakers would give Paul an Extension and thus not actually save much in the way of $$$ in the deal.

We're talking about the same owner than spun the Lebron thing to make himself look like Cleveland's knight in shining armor. He doesn't play by the rules, he's a manipulator.

[Lakers_Kobe_Fan]

He did pretty much highlight why I think it was a bad trade for the Hornets though. Didn't even get rid of Okafor or Ariza, while taking on more salary than before.

retard they need bodies to play for them

they only had 3 players signed...CP3/Okafor/Ariza

sometimes i laugh at the stupidity posted in this form

[comerb]

He did pretty much highlight why I think it was a bad trade for the Hornets though. Didn't even get rid of Okafor or Ariza, while taking on more salary than before.

That trade was extremely good for the Hornets, and was probably by far the best trade that would have been possible for them.

Especially considering they are likely to get nothing after Paul walks in free-agency after this debacle.

[Meticode]

By far?
It's up for argument. But, he's clearly the best player in the trade and has been ranked higher of top NBA players since probably his 2nd or 3rd year in the league.

[Wonder Bread Kid]

Pretty sure this was the letter.

http://i.imgur.com/w8NAC.png

[Meticode]

By far? He's not Kwame Brown.
No one said anything about Kwame Brown, you did.

[LBJMVP]

im embarrassed as a cavaliers fan

:facepalm

[Meticode]

Pretty sure this was the letter.

http://i.imgur.com/w8NAC.png
:roll:

[shadow]

That trade was extremely good for the Hornets considering they are likely to get nothing in return after this debacle.

Consider that they probably won't even be able to find a trading partner after this period. Stern needs to come to his senses and make this deal go through. I wonder if the whole LA needing a PF spin is part of damage control to give them some wiggle room to modify the deal? Although I can't imagine the Lakers would put themselves at a greater disadvantage salary wise.

[Kobe 4 The Win]

Wow, he's complaining that the Lakers pay $20M less luxury tax and so less money would shared amongst non tax paying teams.. as if that's a legitimate reason to nix the trade? This whole thing is f*cking weird.

Word. Nevermind the fact that this trade was a great deal for NO. I wouldn't have made that trade if I was Mitch and niggahs are acting like New Orleans got robbed? GTFO.

[chazzy]

Consider that they probably won't even be able to find a trading partner after this period. Stern needs to come to his senses and make this deal go through. I wonder if the whole LA needing a PF spin is part of damage control to give them some wiggle room to modify the deal? Although I can't imagine the Lakers would put themselves at a greater disadvantage salary wise.
Reports were that the Lakers had a follow up deal to get an PF, either with their trade exception or some other player package.

[statman32]

I see nothing wrong with this letter. As a part-owner of the Hornets he has the right to want this trade to go to a vote. It makes a lot more sense than the league offices nixing the deal because of basketball reasons. (If this stick to this reason, the case will surely go to court, and they will lose.)

One can not assume that Paul will just re-sign with the Lakers, so his figures are 100% correct.

One thing I would have added is the fact that the Hornets (which he owns a 1/29th share in), will be taking on more salary, therefore, costing him money.

[bagelred]

No one said anything about Kwame Brown, you did.

I'm making a point. This isn't Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown. It's Chris Paul for Gasol and Odom. I think some people would argue that Hornets win in that deal. It's at least debatable.

So to say that "BY FAR" Lakers win is preposterous.

[G-Funk]

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert called the New Orleans Hornets’ proposed trade of Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers a “travesty,” and urged NBA commissioner David Stern to put the deal to vote of the league’s 29 owners in an email obtained by Yahoo! Sports. Gilbert sent the email to Stern, deputy commissioner Adam Silver and a handful of Gilbert’s ownership peers on Thursday.




The following is the email in its entirety:


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.

An NBA spokesman said owners “didn’t kill the deal,” instead citing “basketball reasons,” for why the league office blocked the trade.



http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-nba_dan_gilbert_email_lakers_hornets_trade_120811

[comerb]

I see nothing wrong with this letter. As a part-owner of the Hornets he has the right to want this trade to go to a vote. It makes a lot more sense than the league offices nixing the deal because of basketball reasons. (If this stick to this reason, the case will surely go to court, and they will lose.)

One can not assume that Paul will just re-sign with the Lakers, so his figures are 100% correct.

One thing I would have added is the fact that the Hornets (which he owns a 1/29th share in), will be taking on more salary, therefore, costing him money.

There is a massive conflict of interest that could set up a potential legal battleground between the player's association and the league. You can't have the owners pressuring the league about where a player is allowed to be traded to because "they don't like it". Especially when the trade is beneficial to all parties involved (and the lack of the trade significantly hurts the main party).

There is a reason they are citing basketball reasons... because there are significant business related moral implications if they tell the truth.

[L8kersfan222]

So it wasn't blocked because New Orlean's would lose profit but fear of what lakers would become IF they got Howard. Fear.

[statman32]

There is a massive conflict of interest that could set up a potential legal battleground between the player's association and the league. You can't have the owners pressuring the league about where a player is allowed to be traded to because "they don't like it". Especially when the trade is beneficial to all parties involved (and the lack of the trade significantly hurts the main party).

There is a reason they are citing basketball reasons... because there are significant business related moral implications if they tell the truth.
I actually believe the legal implications are bigger if the deal was nixed b/c of basketball reasons. The NBA has no authority to nix deals because of basketball reasons. If the owners nixed the deal for basketball reasons, then obviously they had every right to do so, but right now it's looking like that isn't the case.

Furthermore, it's looking like the owners were not informed or talked to about the decision. Cue legal battles and the end of Stern.

[Soundwave]

I actually believe the legal implications are bigger if the deal was nixed b/c of basketball reasons. The NBA has no authority to nix deals because of basketball reasons. If the owners nixed the deal for basketball reasons, then obviously they had every right to do so, but right now it's looking like that isn't the case.

Furthermore, it's looking like the owners were not informed or talked to about the decision. Cue legal battles and the end of Stern.

There is no deal to begin with because this proposed deal was before the 9th.

There is nothing in paper as nothing can be done before the 9th.

If I tell you I'm going to sell you a car for price X tomorrow, but my boss says no overnight, and you come back tomorrow ... you have no case.

There is no actual deal on paper.

[Meticode]

So it wasn't blocked because New Orlean's would lose profit but fear of what lakers would become IF they got Howard. Fear.
Well that and the owners have to pay $15 million dollars.

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

There is no deal to begin with because this proposed deal was before the 9th.

There is nothing in paper as nothing can be done before the 9th.

If I tell you I'm going to sell you a car for price X tomorrow, but my boss says no overnight, and you come back tomorrow ... you have no case.

There is no actual deal on paper.
slightly off-topic, but no actual deal has to be on paper.

[Wonder Bread Kid]

Dan Gilbert's latest letter:

http://i.imgur.com/JIMHc.png

[Allstar24]

I found this man kind of whiny with the tirade on James but didn't care for him at all because it didn't involve my team. But now I find him beyond repulsive. He is a failure, so he can't stand another team's success...what a shitbag.

[SleepyCorpse]

legal repercussions my ass, if push comes to shove the owners will just own up and say yes we pushed stern to nix the deal. even if they didn't just to avoid the hooplah of a legal battle and who's to prove them wrong?

[B]

im embarrassed as a cavaliers fan

:facepalm
I can believe that. If I was a Cavaliers fan I'd be wondering why bother. It's going to be ages before a free agent of value signs there now. It might be illegal for owners to collude but it's not for the players.

[Lebron23]

Gilbert is a douche bag. I hope LeBron buys that team someday.

[Myth]

Pau Gasol says "remember me"?

He's only made the All Star team 3 years in a row. Nothing to see here.

It says it was the first time that a team got by far the best player AND saved tons of money. When the Lakers got Pau, they didn't also save money. His point was that it is suspicious usually trades look like: Superior players for Inferior Players + Saved Money. This trade is Superior Players + Saved Money for Inferior Players. When that happens and the team that is helping the Lakers is owned by the league, that is going to raise some suspicion.

[Real Men Wear Green]

The League just can't be owning a team. The other 29 owners have no desire to spend their money on NO succeeding and don't want to see NO making deals that help out other owners, especially with a high-profile piece like Chris Paul. I'm really glad the Cs stayed out of this mess, could have easily been Rondo crying to SAS instead of Odom.

[Soundwave]

The League just can't be owning a team. The other 29 owners have no desire to spend their money on NO succeeding and don't want to see NO making deals that help out other owners, especially with a high-profile piece like Chris Paul. I'm really glad the Cs stayed out of this mess, could have easily been Rondo crying to SAS instead of Odom.

If the league didn't step up and buy the Hornets, they would've been contracted, likely with the players sent out in a dispersal draft with the lower end teams getting first dibs.

Either way LA likely wasn't getting a sniff of Chris Paul.

[Kevin_Gamble]

This is ridiculous. Should 29 owners have a say on whether the Lakers save money or not, just because they stand to get luxury tax if Lakers are not allowed to make trades? Dan Gilbert is an idiot and a douchebag.

[Soundwave]

This is ridiculous. Should 29 owners have a say on whether the Lakers save money or not, just because they stand to get luxury tax if Lakers are not allowed to make trades? Dan Gilbert is an idiot and a douchebag.

Well how about the Lakers agree to pay the full cost of the Hornets. Then they can make whatever trades they want between the two franchises.

[Joey Zaza]

The League just can't be owning a team. The other 29 owners have no desire to spend their money on NO succeeding and don't want to see NO making deals that help out other owners, especially with a high-profile piece like Chris Paul.

co-sign. If they couldn't find someone to own the NOH, and there were no reports of anyone even close, then lets contract NOH.

[Glide2keva]

I'm glad Gilbert helped in nixing this deal.

How many tites do the Lakers need? They have 16 already.

I loved the "Washington Generals" part.

[Soundwave]

slightly off-topic, but no actual deal has to be on paper.

No actual deal can be completed before Dec. 9th period. Anything before that is technically only "discussion". Period.

[blacknapalm]

I'm glad Gilbert helped in nixing this deal.

How many tites do the Lakers need? They have 16 already.

I loved the "Washington Generals" part.

so you're the fantasy player that sucks at the end of the year and you dump all your good players because everyone else made better pickups than you or drafted better than you? or you face adversity and an injury so you make crap dropoffs because you want to take your ball and go home. screw the big markets just because we suck right now is what you're saying. if i go down, we all go down.

[brownmamba00]

How many tites do the Lakers need? They have 16 already.

So they should just stop with trying to win championship? smh

[Soundwave]

So they should just stop with trying to win championship? smh

I think maybe for once they should try to win compete on the same terms most of the NBA has to -- through drafting and scouting players, rather than sitting around and waiting to snatch up other teams' franchise players.

The double standards are ridiculous -- who made the BIGGEST stink about LeBron/Wade/Bosh last year -- Laker fans. Because they were upset that someone else finally did something they would've done before they got the chance.

[bluechox2]

I think maybe for once they should try to win compete on the same terms most of the NBA has to -- through drafting and scouting players, rather than sitting around and waiting to snatch up other teams' franchise players.

its not their fault that other teams are dumb enough to trade em

[Glide2keva]

so you're the fantasy player that sucks at the end of the year and you dump all your good players because everyone else made better pickups than you or drafted better than you? or you face adversity and an injury so you make crap dropoffs because you want to take your ball and go home. screw the big markets just because we suck right now is what you're saying. if i go down, we all go down.
I don't play fantasy sports, never have and never will.

I'm just tired of the lakers and the way theleague allows them to stack top players cycle after cycle.

[MaxFly]

He did pretty much highlight why I think it was a bad trade for the Hornets though. Didn't even get rid of Okafor or Ariza, while taking on more salary than before.

The Hornets will have to take on more salary anyway. They are well under the cap and they don't meet the minimum salary requirements.

[Glide2keva]

I think maybe for once they should try to win compete on the same terms most of the NBA has to -- through drafting and scouting players, rather than sitting around and waiting to snatch up other teams' franchise players.If they did it this way, I would have no problem with them, but they don't. They are like the Yankees of the NBA.


The double standards are ridiculous -- who made the BIGGEST stink about LeBron/Wade/Bosh last year -- Laker fans. Because they were upset that someone else finally did something they would've done before they got the chance.

It wasn't just lakers fans that were bitching, but the laker fans were the loudest. I found it ironic myself.

[Soundwave]

its not their fault that other teams are dumb enough to trade em

I think the problem is it was getting to a point now where the NBA was beginning to look like a farce.

Whether it's here or there, I know that it's very much out there in the pro sports community that "NBA basketball sucks" because only 1 or 2 teams ever win anything.

It's a stigma I think the NBA is trying to shed.

[bluechox2]

The Hornets will have to take on more salary anyway. They are well under the cap and they don't meet the minimum salary requirements.
use that space on free agents then...

[brownmamba00]

I think maybe for once they should try to win compete on the same terms most of the NBA has to -- through drafting and scouting players, rather than sitting around and waiting to snatch up other teams' franchise players.
It's the Lakers fault that small market teams can't handle the pressure that comes with a superstar?


The double standards are ridiculous -- who made the BIGGEST stink about LeBron/Wade/Bosh last year -- Laker fans. Because they were upset that someone else finally did something they would've done before they got the chance.
BS, most Laker fans were just hating on the 'not 1, not 2, not 3,4....' statement and showoff like the rest of the NBA fans. Cavs fans were the ones who hated the most on the big 3. And this is nothing like what happened in Miami. This is about Stern fukking us, making the players in the trade unhappy, the Hornets/LAL/Rockets front office mad and pissing off the fanbases.

[NumberSix]

Moral of the story is......

Clearly Dan Gilbert is awesome and LeBron is a scumbag for not staying with him.

[Glide2keva]

It's the Lakers fault that small market teams can't handle the pressure that comes with a superstar?

BS, most Laker fans were just hating on the 'not 1, not 2, not 3,4....' statement and showoff like the rest of the NBA fans. Cavs fans were the ones who hated the most on the big 3. And this is nothing like what happened in Miami. This is about Stern fukking us, making the players in the trade unhappy, the Hornets/LAL/Rockets front office mad and pissing off the fanbases.
Yeah because the Lakers haven't been the benificiary of lopsided trades over the years or haven't been aloowed to cheery pick franchise players from other teams *cough*Wilt, Kareem, Shaq,*cough*

I want a more competitive league, not just the lakers being on top year after year.

[MaxFly]

use that space on free agents then...

That's likely what will happen, but the complaint that they were taking on more salary is specious; they will have to take on more salary either way. I doubt Dan Gilbert will write an e-mail to Stern when free agents are picked up. Simply put, Dan Gilbert did not like that the Lakers would be getting Chris Paul.

[Glide2keva]

That's likely what will happen, but the complaint that they were taking on more salary is specious; they will have to take on more salary either way. I doubt Dan Gilbert will write an e-mail to Stern when free agents are picked up. Simply put, Dan Gilbert did not like that the Lakers would be getting Chris Paul.
And no one should, they should have to decline like every other top team after a while.

[blacknapalm]

And no one should, they should have to decline like every other top team after a while.

ya! screw good, smart GM's and owners! let those crappy ones win a couple...cuz they are, well crappy and deserve pity! that'll show em we aren't the whiny bunch!

[Real Men Wear Green]

If the league didn't step up and buy the Hornets, they would've been contracted, likely with the players sent out in a dispersal draft with the lower end teams getting first dibs.

Either way LA likely wasn't getting a sniff of Chris Paul.
I don't care about the CP3 trade in this context. As a Celtic fan I want whatever's worse for the Lakers but this isn't about that. I'm talking about the general issues involved with the league owning a team. The true "owners" of this team are all competing against one another as well as the team. This is a terrible situation. They should sell NO on the cheap if they're so insistent on the team staying there otherwise it's not going to be fair to anyone as the CP3 situation has illustrated. Even a dispersal draft would have been better than what we just saw happen.

[Kevin_Gamble]

I think maybe for once they should try to win compete on the same terms most of the NBA has to -- through drafting and scouting players, rather than sitting around and waiting to snatch up other teams' franchise players.

The double standards are ridiculous -- who made the BIGGEST stink about LeBron/Wade/Bosh last year -- Laker fans. Because they were upset that someone else finally did something they would've done before they got the chance.

You are right, Lakers have an unfair advantage over other teams in that they are allowed to trade for other teams players whereas 29 other teams in the NBA can only draft and scout. Jesus Christ the arguments people come up with.

[Soundwave]

I don't care about the CP3 trade in this context. As a Celtic fan I want whatever's worse for the Lakers but this isn't about that. I'm talking about the general issues involved with the league owning a team. The true "owners" of this team are all competing against one another as well as the team. This is a terrible situation. They should sell NO on the cheap if they're so insistent on the team staying there otherwise it's not going to be fair to anyone as the CP3 situation has illustrated. Even a dispersal draft would have been better than what we just saw happen.

It's not a great situation, but it is what it is.

The NHL owns the Phoenix Coyotes because of the same deal. But I can tell you Phoenix is not running around spending up to the cap on other people's money.

[Real Men Wear Green]

And no one should, they should have to decline like every other top team after a while.
That's nonsense. Every team should be allowed to make whatever deals they can within the rules to improve.

[Real Men Wear Green]

It's not a great situation, but it is what it is.

The NHL owns the Phoenix Coyotes because of the same deal. But I can tell you Phoenix is not running around spending up to the cap on other people's money.
So then the NHL has a dumb situation. Doesn't mean the NBA should be doing it. NHL is played on ice skates, should we now put blades on sneakers? This needs to be dealt with because right now Stern and Co. look ridiculous.

[Glide2keva]

ya! screw good, smart GM's and owners! let those crappy ones win a couple...cuz they are, well crappy and deserve pity! that'll show em we aren't the whiny bunch!
The point, you missed it.

The league needs an even playing field and they don't have it. If you're a crappy organisation, you don't deserve to win. But not every FO that doesn't get away with murder like the lakers are allowed to are crappy.

Some GM's make moves and draft well and build teams, while the lakers just snatch players from other teams.

Between the lakers and the Celtic, they have a combined 33 of the 50+ NBA titles. That is not good for the league.

Granted my Bulls have 6 alone, there are teams that have built good teams over the years only to be stemrolled by the lakers' store bought teams.

I'm sick it and the lakers and their rude, obnoxious, cocky, arrogant douche bag fan base.

[Soundwave]

You are right, Lakers have an unfair advantage over other teams in that they are allowed to trade for other teams players whereas 29 other teams in the NBA can only draft and scout. Jesus Christ the arguments people come up with.

Still I'd like to see them actually have to build a team on their own merit.

Any friggin' idiot can build a good team if superstar players keep asking to be traded there every 5 years.

I'd be curious to see how they would do if all that "Laker mystique" bullsh-t was swept away. It's all marketing fluff, unfortunately these players fall for it. It's not an issue in the NFL ... is Green Bay a glamour market? No. But hey if you're dealt to Green Bay you go there and you play your ass off.

Because it's about the *sport*. Not about how many commercials you can shove your fugly face into or the fantasy of thinking you might be a movie star on the side.

[blacknapalm]

The point, you missed it.

The league needs an even playing field and they don't have it. If you're a crappy organisation, you don't deserve to win. But not every FO that doesn't get away with murder like the lakers are allowed to are crappy.

Some GM's make moves and draft well and build teams, while the lakers just snatch players from other teams.

Between the lakers and the Celtic, they have a combined 33 of the 50+ NBA titles. That is not good for the league.

Granted my Bulls have 6 alone, there are teams that have built good teams over the years only to be stemrolled by the lakers' store bought teams.

I'm sick it and the lakers and their rude, obnoxious, cocky, arrogant douche bag fan base.

ya you're right. boston, chicago and LA should all contract.

[Glide2keva]

That's nonsense. Every team should be allowed to make whatever deals they can within the rules to improve.
No, it isn't.

Every team goes through a down period in order to re-build. The lakers just grab players from other teams and stack players around them.

That is unfair. But whatever, I'm glad this deal got axed, **** the lakers.

[Glide2keva]

ya you're right. boston, chicago and LA should all contract.
Again, my point, you missed it.

Take off the laker colored glasses

[Glide2keva]

Still I'd like to see them actually have to build a team on their own merit.

Any friggin' idiot can build a good team if superstar players keep asking to be traded there every 5 years.

I'd be curious to see how they would do if all that "Laker mystique" bullsh-t was swept away. It's all marketing fluff, unfortunately these players fall for it. It's not an issue in the NFL ... is Green Bay a glamour market? No. But hey if you're dealt to Green Bay you go there and you play your ass off.

Because it's about the *sport*. Not about how many commercials you can shove your fugly face into or the fantasy of thinking you might be a movie star on the side.
It'll never happen.

[blacknapalm]

Again, my point, you missed it.

Take off the laker colored glasses

no, i got it. just playing dumb to lower to your level

btw, since no one is mentioning it...NHL is headed for a labor dispute aka lockout. they have a hard cap that supposedly some are saying will save the NBA from future lockouts. they also don't have as many single players that can affect team outcomes.

[Kevin_Gamble]

Still I'd like to see them actually have to build a team on their own merit.

Any friggin' idiot can build a good team if superstar players keep asking to be traded there every 5 years.

I'd be curious to see how they would do if all that "Laker mystique" bullsh-t was swept away.

Parity is something the NBA should be actively trying to achieve, but axing every Lakers trade because it would help the Lakers is a terrible way to achieve parity.

We watch professional sports because we think it's a competitive event. Possibly the most valuable asset that NBA has is this good-will they have earned with the public. That's why we'll never see a team in Vegas, and that's why gambling on sports gets you instantly punished in pro sports. And now, we just saw the NBA 'fixing' the results to hurt one team at the expense of others. This is patently ridiculous.

[Glide2keva]

no, i got it. just playing dumb to lower to your level

btw, since no one is mentioning it...NHL is headed for a labor dispute aka lockout. they have a hard cap that supposedly some are saying will save the NBA from future lockouts. they also don't have as many single players that can affect team outcomes.
You should take that comedy act on the road, I'm sure you'll draw 5 fans a night.

[blacknapalm]

You should take that comedy act on the road, I'm sure you'll draw 5 fans a night.

over/under when NHL goes into labor dispute? lol @ you saying 'F the lakers', then telling others to take off rose colored glasses. your agenda is clear

[Glide2keva]

Parity is something the NBA should be actively trying to achieve, but axing every Lakers trade because it would help the Lakers is a terrible way to achieve parity.Every trade? How about Pau Gasol for a bag of M&M's and some Salt n Sours?


We watch professional sports because we think it's a competitive event. Possibly the most valuable asset that NBA has is this good-will they have earned with the public. That's why we'll never see a team in Vegas, and that's why gambling on sports gets you instantly punished in pro sports. And now, we just saw the NBA 'fixing' the results to hurt one team at the expense of others. This is patently ridiculous.

Yeah because the lakers are starving for another championship. :rolleyes:

[Glide2keva]

over/under when NHL goes into labor dispute? lol @ you saying 'F the lakers', then telling others to take off rose colored glasses. your agenda is clearI said laker colored glasses.

Yes, I have an agenda, I hate the lakers. I don't hide that fact.

[Kevin_Gamble]

Every trade? How about Pau Gasol for a bag of M&M's and some Salt n Sours?



Yeah because the lakers are starving for another championship. :rolleyes:

It doesn't matter whether the Lakers have won a lot of rings before or not. Should NBA just take turns every year in winning the championship? That way you'll have parity the way you want it.

[Real Men Wear Green]

No, it isn't.

Every team goes through a down period in order to re-build. The lakers just grab players from other teams and stack players around them.

That is unfair. But whatever, I'm glad this deal got axed, **** the lakers.
So your "logic" is, other teams go through down periods so LA should not be allowed to obtain good players.

That's a bunch of crap. Really just sounds like whining.

[Soundwave]

It doesn't matter whether the Lakers have won a lot of rings before or not. Should NBA just take turns every year in winning the championship? That way you'll have parity the way you want it.

It matters when they're asking 29 other teams that they hope to use as a punching bag to pick up the tab on a trade.

This is a unique situation because of the state of the Hornets.

The fact is the NBA is a league where one franchise has had an inordinate amount of success over the last 30 years. Not even the Yankees have been consistently that good over 30 years.

I think when you ask other owners to subsidize that ... that's where I think that's the straw that breaks the camel's back. Other owners had had enough and were pissed off.

The idea that this would happen right on the day where the owners are signing a new CBA to ratify a deal that's supposedly going to "even the playing field for everyone", just made the whole thing a farce.

[brownmamba00]

I said laker colored glasses.

Yes, I have an agenda, I hate the lakers. I don't hide that fact.
Da fukk outta here man. Never saw a Bulls fan this butthurt over the Lakers.
You're just scared because Rose&co can kiss goodbye to ring if DHO-CP3-Kobe team up in LA.

Even C's fans are :facepalm @ you. You are pathetic

[amfirst]

Who gives a uck. Rules are rules u just can't make something up if u decide to. CP3 should sue the crap out of Stern. Lakers take care of their players. Other teams can't do the same. Then get into another business.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Still I'd like to see them actually have to build a team on their own merit.

Any friggin' idiot can build a good team if superstar players keep asking to be traded there every 5 years.

I'd be curious to see how they would do if all that "Laker mystique" bullsh-t was swept away. It's all marketing fluff, unfortunately these players fall for it. It's not an issue in the NFL ... is Green Bay a glamour market? No. But hey if you're dealt to Green Bay you go there and you play your ass off.

Because it's about the *sport*. Not about how many commercials you can shove your fugly face into or the fantasy of thinking you might be a movie star on the side.
Players do commercials because it makes them money, FYI. Including fugly Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews up in Green Bay. The only cure for what you think ails the NBA would indeed be a CBA like what the NFL has but the NBA doesn't have that. They have the freedom to be Lakers if they want to, a right that was still negotiated in after an owner-initiated lock-out.

[heyhey]

Every trade? How about Pau Gasol for a bag of M&M's and some Salt n Sours?



Yeah because the lakers are starving for another championship. :rolleyes:

yea your thinking actually mirrors that of the small market owners and their puppet David Stern.

What you are implying is that because a team has been succesful in the past, it's justified to **** them over because they are already successful.

This type of legislating parity will only lead to a more washed down product and ethical abuses. It's not the league's prerogative to control how teams play within the rules. It's function is to simply set the rules.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Who gives a uck. Rules are rules u just can't make something up if u decide to. CP3 should sue the crap out of Stern. Lakers take care of their players. Other teams can't do the same. Then get into another business.
On the flip side Paul's lawsuit is going to be hard to base on anything. They didn't infringe on his rights under the CBA in any fashion. The league owns the Hornets so they can sit there and pretend they nixed the deal for bball reasons. What's Paul's complaint going to be in court? That he didn't get traded in a deal he liked? That's never been part of any CBA.

[Kevin_Gamble]

I think when you ask other owners to subsidize that ... that's where I think that's the straw that breaks the camel's back. Other owners had had enough and were pissed off.

The idea that this would happen right on the day where the owners are signing a new CBA to ratify a deal that's supposedly going to "even the playing field for everyone", just made the whole thing a farce.

The state of the Hornets should not matter. Just because the Hornets are owned by the NBA doesn't mean decisions about how the Hornets run its basketball operation should factor in the wishes of 29 other teams. That's basically fixing the game.

[blacknapalm]

This comment has been removed by David Stern.

[Real Men Wear Green]

The state of the Hornets should not matter. Just because the Hornets are owned by the NBA doesn't mean decisions about how the Hornets run its basketball operation should factor in the wishes of 29 other teams. That's basically fixing the game.
Unfortunately their money was used to buy the team and to pay the salaries. And if they're going to pour in their millions they get a say. That's why they shouldn't have the league collectively owning a team.

[33teeth]

Cleveland will NEVER be able to sign a free agent. Ever.

[PJR]

LeBron got to be smiling right now. With every day that passes, Gilbert makes him look better and better.

[All Net]

You know whats funny?

gilbert might have pretty much just handed Lebron a championship by this....

[BlackWhiteGreen]

Did anyone else see this?


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.

https://twitter.com/#!/WojYahooNBA/status/145141790146699265

So the Gilbert email had nothing to do with it.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Cleveland will NEVER be able to sign a free agent. Ever.
If they offer the max to a player that no one else will they'll sign that guy. If Kyrie Irving becomes the star he should be they may not even have to overpay. Money still rules everything.

[Da KO King]

I see nothing wrong with this letter. As a part-owner of the Hornets he has the right to want this trade to go to a vote. It makes a lot more sense than the league offices nixing the deal because of basketball reasons. (If this stick to this reason, the case will surely go to court, and they will lose.)

One can not assume that Paul will just re-sign with the Lakers, so his figures are 100% correct.

One thing I would have added is the fact that the Hornets (which he owns a 1/29th share in), will be taking on more salary, therefore, costing him money.
Exactly.

I think all the complaints is because all though people claim to hate "elite" players pairing up, everyone wants to watch great basketball.

Looking at the details of the trade there is no way it would be approved if it went to a vote. It was a horrible deal for the owners who were FORCED into accepting ownership of the Hornets.

[Meticode]

Dan Gilbert really disappoints me. He still seems upset over the whole LeBron issue. The man (who's acting like a child) needs to let this go. His letter seemed more about the Lakers than the actual trade happening. I understand he wants to make money and make the league competitive, but it's not like the Hornets or the Rockets weren't getting nothing in return.

I personally don't know if this will turn out better than if it went through. I don't know if Howard was on his way to the Lakers somehow after they would acquire Paul, but I do know that I like Howard going to New Jersey (soon-to-be-Brooklyn), I do like Chandler going to New York to make them a little more competitive with a solid starting five of Billups, Fields, Anthony, Amare and Chandler.

Who I really feel for is New Orleans fans in this. The reason being is they were going to be walking away with a competitive team with this trade with a possible starting five of Dragic, Martin, Odom, Scola and Okafor.

[Soundwave]

Dan Gilbert really disappoints me. He still seems upset over the whole LeBron issue. The man (who's acting like a child) needs to let this go. His letter seemed more about the Lakers than the actual trade happening. I understand he wants to make money and make the league competitive, but it's not like the Hornets or the Rockets weren't getting nothing in return.

I personally don't know if this will turn out better than if it went through. I don't know of Howard was on his way to the Lakers somehow after they would acquire Paul, but I do know that I like Howard going to New Jersey (soon-to-be-Brooklyn), I do like Chandler going to New York to make them a little more competitive with a solid starting five of Billups, Fields, Anthony, Amare and Chandler.

Who I really feel for is New Orleans fans in this. The reason being is they were going to be walking away with a competitive team with this trade with a possible starting five of Dragic, Martin, Odom, Scola and Okafor.

I think he was more upset with his money being used to subsidize another "superteam". It sounded like the Lakers were getting both CP3 and Dwight, and OK ... I can understand the anger because here you are and Stern is promising you this new CBA is going to make everything different, and even as the ink on the new CBA (literally) is still wet, this news is breaking.

I can see how he'd be livid.

[heyhey]

I think he was more upset with his money being used to subsidize another "superteam". It sounded like the Lakers were getting both CP3 and Dwight, and OK ... I can understand the anger because here you are and Stern is promising you this new CBA is going to make everything different, and even as the ink on the new CBA (literally) is still wet, this news is breaking.

I can see how he'd be livid.
you realize that the superteams also subsidize him via revenue sharing right? it's a two way street.

If they made the fact that NO was not going to be able to make decisions independent of other owners and was in fact going to be a collectively determined franchise than this would not have been such a blindside.

[Soundwave]

you realize that the superteams also subsidize him via revenue sharing right? it's a two way street.

If they made the fact that NO was not going to be able to make decisions independent of other owners and was in fact going to be a collectively determined franchise than this would not have been such a blindside.

I'm not arguing right/wrong, I'm saying I understand how he probably felt at that time.

Here you are signing this agreement that's supposed to be some new era of NBA basketball, and it looks like you're getting served a plate "the same ol' sh-t" at the same time.

So I get where he was coming from.

[OriginalNameGuy]

Gilbert continues to be the most bitter owner in the leauge and because he got nothing for LeBron no one can get anything for their star players

[Kevin_Gamble]

Gilbert continues to be the most bitter owner in the leauge and because he got nothing for LeBron no one can get anything for their star players

He got 2 1st RD picks, 2 2nd Rd picks, $15 mil. trade exception, and right to swap picks with the Heat in 2012.

[Sarcastic]

You know whats funny?

gilbert might have pretty much just handed Lebron a championship by this....

Are you implying that only the Lakers can beat the Heat?

[Eat Like A Bosh]

He's still butthurt over LeBron, I'll tell you that.

[Meticode]

He's still butthurt over LeBron, I'll tell you that.
Pretty much.

[Pointguard]

[QUOTE=Rose]
When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?

Please advise

[Da Doc04]

You know whats funny?

gilbert might have pretty much just handed Lebron a championship by this....


EXACTLY!! I just posted the same thing another site

[fos]

I <3 Dan Gilbert. Nothing wrong with this, he's looking out for his interests. I don't think the NBA should be running the Hornets to begin with. Either find a buyer or blow it up. Maybe the US gov't can own them, could have General Motors AND a basketball team! w00t.

[nycelt84]

Worst owner in the league by far.

[niko]

***** who cannot compete