Dan Gilbret's Letter to stern

[BrianFromWA]

Remember, like, 3 days ago, when everyone on creation was saying that there's no way the L*kers have enough assets to get both CP3 and Howard while keeping K*be? That it would be competitively disadvantageous to allow machinations that would let the L*kers trade the crap on their roster

This isn't like the Artest suspension, where the vote was "unanimous. 1-0, Stern." It's a set of owners saying "no, we're not going to let that happen." Just like when Shinn didn't trade CP3 to us last year.

Just once, I'd like to see Hollinger, Stein, Broussard--any of them--actually try to refute the stuff in Gilbert's letter. I keep seeing "NOH made out great in this deal!! HOU's been trying for three years to get Gasol!! etc." No one's mentioning why owners wouldn't do this as a business deal--whether allowing a L*ker superteam that actually takes money out of their pockets, while also removing the marquee name from their franchise.

Luis Scola and Kevin Martin aren't selling tickets or getting them Christmas Day games, folks. And it's disingenous for people to not bring up the business side that Gilbert brought up in the calculus of this trade.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If the Lakers want to fleece a team in a trade they a free to do so. Just make a deal with a team that's not owned by the rest of the NBA franchises.

Who's getting fleeced? The general consensus is that the Hornets were getting a very good haul for a superstar with a bad knee (or two).

 

[BrianFromWA]

His vote is only 1 of the group that owns the Hornets, sure. But he also controls the third team in this deal. Without his approval, the deal doesn't go through.

I see what you're saying, but maybe it hadn't been brought up. Maybe from the HOU perspective it was great. But when you look at what Gilbert's talking about in the letter, what's the response to that? "Yeah, I get Pau Gasol, but I drop NOH franchise value, I take away lux tax sharing money out of my pocket (and others'), etc."

 

[craigehlo]

Who's getting fleeced? The general consensus is that the Hornets were getting a very good haul for a superstar with a bad knee (or two).

The Hornets were getting a lot of salary back and inferior talent IMHO. Lakers were getting the 2nd best PG in the game, large trade exception and dumping their worst contract in Pau.

 

[Blazer4ever]

What I meant is that the Houston-side of the deal is the problematic one as I see it! The Hornets are getting 4 good-to-very-good players and while they wouldn't do this trade normaly, it's better than losing Chris Paul for nothing (and it's not like they're championship contenders this year, with him...). The Rockets trade Dragic, Martin and Scola for the aging Gasol when they're not that deep anyway. If Les Alexander approves this and the has-to-be objective NBA front-office denies it, it looks bad.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Who's getting fleeced? The general consensus is that the Hornets were getting a very good haul for a superstar with a bad knee (or two).

You have to amend that. "The general consensus is that, in terms of talent coming back, the Hornets were getting a very good haul for their superstar." You neglect to mention that they're also "taking on an additional 50M in long-term salary" for a team that couldn't support the payroll they had before, in a town where they rarely sell out the stadium and who has little business base. You don't mention that their two best players now play the same position. You don't mention that they are getting older and more expensive in this deal, not younger and cheaper. There's plenty that smells about this trade.

 

[craigehlo]

The Rockets trade Dragic, Martin and Scola for the aging Gasol when they're not that deep anyway. If Les Alexander approves this and the has-to-be objective NBA front-office denies it, it looks bad.

If the Rockets want to tank it for a top pick, they should get involved with a deal that doesn't facilitate CP3 dictating where he wants to go.

 

[julius]

His vote is only 1 of the group that owns the Hornets, sure. But he also controls the third team in this deal. Without his approval, the deal doesn't go through.

Yeah, but the other team (Hornets) have to agree

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yeah, but the other team (Hornets) have to agree

The other team has to agree in order to consummate the deal. The other team doesn't have to agree in order to cancel the deal.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

So you don't want superstars to be in small markets because not as many people could see them?

The NBA owners all equally paid money to own the Hornets, so they should all equally get a voice in how that team is run. I gotta agree with Gilbert. The main thing he asked for is that the owners get to vote their input on the biggest decision of something they own. That is the norm for all owners in whatever business they are involved in. Think of being a stock owner, you have voting shares and have input in decisions. Similar situation here.

I think players should not be forced to play in small markets long term, but also think there are five or six teams that should be contracted.

The NBA owners paid equal money, but they were paying in hopes of finding another owner and has went on far too long. Every trade usually only makes the teams involved happy. CP3 is now at the mercy of the league and it is a shame.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

We missed some great basketball from KG being locked away in Minnesota.

How's life in 1974?

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

How's life in 1974?

Not for sure as I would have been one. The previous CBA's have resulted in some really bad finals and it would have been nice to see the top players like KG compete in one at the prime of his career instead of at its twilight.

The only way I could see Gilbert's complaint is if he would have stressed that he did not think it was effective use of cap space. He would not be crying if Bosh had decided to sign in Cleveland.

We will see if NO gets a better package with its cap space and a return in S&T during the offseason. Seeing how Cleveland and Toronto got basically nothing, my guess is that this deal was fair.

 

[BBert]

You have to amend that. "The general consensus is that, in terms of talent coming back, the Hornets were getting a very good haul for their superstar." You neglect to mention that they're also "taking on an additional 50M in long-term salary" for a team that couldn't support the payroll they had before, in a town where they rarely sell out the stadium and who has little business base. You don't mention that their two best players now play the same position. You don't mention that they are getting older and more expensive in this deal, not younger and cheaper. There's plenty that smells about this trade.

Excellent points.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

You have to amend that. "The general consensus is that, in terms of talent coming back, the Hornets were getting a very good haul for their superstar." You neglect to mention that they're also "taking on an additional 50M in long-term salary" for a team that couldn't support the payroll they had before, in a town where they rarely sell out the stadium and who has little business base. You don't mention that their two best players now play the same position. You don't mention that they are getting older and more expensive in this deal, not younger and cheaper. There's plenty that smells about this trade.

If they kept Paul, he would be 17.7M this year and 30% of the cap if an extension is signed (which will not happen).
The Hornets would also have to pay for the other players that they would not have to in the 4 for 1 trade that got cancelled.

Odom plays multiple positions, is only due 8.9m this year and has only 2M guaranteed for next year.
Scola makes 30M guaranteed over the next three with an NG fourth year. Plenty of teams would give compensation to take his contract.
Martin is overpaid, but only for two years. 24M for two years is not bad.
Dragic is a bargain at 2M.

One solution I see is that the league makes the Lakers take as much salary as they are sending out back. 4M of that could be made up by the Lakers taking Turiaf and the Hornets getting 3M from the Knicks. They could also make them take players like Charlie Bell with other compensation going to NO.