Tech-SHIZZLE

With the veto of the blockbuster three team trade that would have sent Pau Gasol to the Rockets, Lamar Odom to the Hornets, several quality players to the Hornets from the Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul, David Stern effectively went all Saddam Hussein on the league.

The claim by the league was that the veto was for “basketball reasons”, everyone knows it was simply Stern exercising his muscle to show the players that they are just chattel. The problem is that even the owners and execs in the league don’t like the move (for the most part) because the trade was really a win-win-win for the teams involved, and Stern’s meddling will force the Hornets to get absolutely NOTHING for Paul next summer when he leaves by choice as a free agent. At least this deal would have gotten the Hornets some value in exchange for Paul’s departure. Next summer, Paul leaves by choice, and the Hornets get nothing. Good move, Stern.

Furthermore, can you imagine the uproar if Paul goes to another top-tier team other than the Lakers? Wouldn’t Stern have to veto that as well? Perhaps he can weasel out of it by saying that the “new” trade has players that would be a better fit for the Hornets, but that would be disingenuous I would imagine.

Stern has singe-handedly reduced the value of the team, which the league owns and is trying to unload (anyone have an extra $200m laying around?).

I have to assume Stern is kicking himself this morning for his knee-jerk reaction, and that he’s looking for a way to save face and let the trade go through. If not, Stern deserved all the vitriol he has received over the last year because of the lockout, etc.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but I’m starting to wonder if I was too generous.