I thought the melodrama surrounding the NBA was over when the collective bargaining agreement was signed. Just when I thought I was out they pull me right back in. The NBA has nixed a trade that would have sent New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. The rationale behind the veto was the Hornets are "more valuable" with Chris Paul on the roster. This is not the NBA's finest hour.
Lord David Stern has always been heavy handed with his complete autonomy of power. Whether it was implementing a dress code, suspensions, or team relocation (yes I'm still bitter he let Oklahoma slime bucket Clay Bennett steal the Seattle Supersonics) Stern has always established his presence of authority. This time he's gone too far.
I'm not sure it's even legal what he's doing. How can someone arbitrarily veto a trade 3 other teams agreed to? Why is his opinion so much more valid than everyone else? He's acting as if there's a buyer in place for the New Orleans Hornets (which is currently owned by the league) that will only purchase the franchise if Chris Paul is still in uniform. Everyone knows Chris Paul is leaving at the end of the season so why not let the Hornets get as much as they can in return before they lose him for nothing?
Maybe Lamar Odom's wife Khloe Kardashian couldn't bear the thought of losing market share on their reality show with a move to New Orleans and promised Stern a date with her newly single sister Kim. Maybe Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert called him in the middle of the night crying like a little girl because small market teams just aren't that glamorous. Maybe the thought of another NBA superstar talent deciding where he will or won't play was just too much for the commissioner to bear. Whatever the case is the decision was legally and morally wrong. David Stern has outlived his usefulness to the NBA. It's time for new leadership.
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