My Poor Laker Friend

[magnifier661]

He wrote this on face book and we had a back and forth. I love the guy, but he is truly reaching... It's a long read, but I think it's a little funny that Laker fans are crying about this.

The NBA is forever tainted now. The league manipulated where they wanted an NBA star to go. David Stern and the NBA have lost all credibility. They took over a struggling franchise and they said they they would keep their distance from the situation for risk of conflict of interest. They then personally took over the Clippers deal from the guy that they put in charge of the Hornets after they vetoed the Lakers trade. I've never seen anything like this. I truly believe that Stern should resign after this...

Me: "I love it! And hopefully new jersey steals Howard from you too! Go blazers!!!!!"

You are thinking strictly from a lakers standpoint. I'm looking t this as a commissioner dictating where he wants a star to go. That's a bad image. Look at the Heat, Celtics, and the Knicks. They did what the did because they could. The commish didn't like it but he couldn't do anything about it. In this case he handpicked where he wants a star to go? The commish? Who is supposed to be impartial? What if the NFL did this? What if MLB did this? Have you noticed that MLB had nothing to do with Matt Kemp resigning and didn't even comment on it? They stood as far away from day to day operations as they could. I'm happy for the Clippers but all potential success they have will be forever tainted because it was manipulated

Me: "Oh give me a break! NBA has almost always been pro-lakers for the last 40 years. So the one time you guys get hosed, then you think the leagues against you?! Dude u only got a taste for what many small market teams face each and every year. Man up and move on!"

Again, you keep talking about the lakers. It's not about the Lakers. CP3 wasn't going to the Knicks, Celtics, or Lakers no matter what, even tho all teams were interested. That's bullshit! If the NBA didn't own the Hornets, Chris Paul would've been on either the Lakers, Knicks, Mavs, or Celtics and everyone knows it. That's why I'm calling bullshit to the entire thing

Me: "No u don't get it. Stern is trying to sell the team. This move gave them a promising talent, ton of salary reduction and a two chances to get the #1 pick in arguably one of the strongest drafts."

Why would you put Dell Demps in charge of the team, day that the league office will stay out of the operations of the team, and then veto a trade the Demps, the Rockets, and the Lakers all agree on, then take over the trade negotiations? How is that staying impartial? What was te point of putting Demps in charge in the first place, and then even tell him to go ahead and re-shop Chris Paul around? That makes no sense. David stern didn't just want draft picks. He wanted young talent, and draft picks, and CP3 where he wanted him to be. That's bullshit! No other commish would've done that

Look at the Dodgers and Matt Kemp. MLB didn't come in and tell them not to sign Matt Kemp to that massive as contract, or do a sign and trade for draft picks, or something like that. The league conversely stayed out of the dodgers way with all of that because it's not their place. They are supposed to be impartial and worried about all teams equally. This was some grimy shit that Stern did

Me: "Owners hire GMs and veto their deals all the time. Just picture Stern as a Dr. Jerry Buss or Paul Allen. That is his capacity for NOLA. You are being bitter because the Lakers got hosed. You wouldn't even be close to heated like this, if this happened to Boston. I guarantee it."

I'd laugh at Boston, but I'd still call bullshit on this. I don't agree with a league personally picking where they want there starts to go. Ironically this trade happened when a big market team, the Lakers, jumped back into the CP3 sweepstakes and word was that the Clippers had pulled out, that's when the league office took over the trade and "pushed" it thru? That's says bullshit all over it. If that was the Celtics or Knicks, I'd call bullshit too. I'd be happy as a fan because I don't like those teams and in happy for my little brother, the Clips, to have something to buzz about, but I don't agree with how this process played out and the high majority of the sports world agrees with me

Me: "But that's my point. I would bet hundreds of Dollars, you would be cheering on Boston getting hosed. You are just passionate about this because it hit directly home. Welcome to my world. I deal with this every year"

Haha! I guess as a Lakers fan I'm a little spoiled. I don't like the idea of my team being the guinea pig in this whole thing

Me: "Dude, you will be fine... The NBA will give you guys another great center or possibly work some way to land a trio of superstar talent. This season, maybe this first 1-2 years, I will be a happy small market team that saw big brother get knocked out for once." --- Added, for Brian "Oh and the Matt Kemp line is BS. They have multiple buyers lined up for the Dodgers, including Magic Johnson.

Who was the last guy you heard was lined up to buy the Hornets, but only if they took on another 50M in contracts to guys in their 30's? With zero lotto picks involved?"

 

[BrianFromWA]

tell him that the Matt Kemp line is BS. They have multiple buyers lined up for the Dodgers, including Magic Johnson.

Who was the last guy you heard was lined up to buy the Hornets, but only if they took on another 50M in contracts to guys in their 30's? With zero lotto picks involved?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Tell him he's welcome to become a Los Angeles Kings fan, if the L*kers losing their monopoly on stars is too much for him to handle.

 

[magnifier661]

tell him that the Matt Kemp line is BS. They have multiple buyers lined up for the Dodgers, including Magic Johnson.

Who was the last guy you heard was lined up to buy the Hornets, but only if they took on another 50M in contracts to guys in their 30's? With zero lotto picks involved?

Sent... I will soon find out how he responds.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Listeining to the Laker fans down here is ridiculous. They truly believe that getting Howard is a "must". They don't say it would be "nice" or "great", but rather a must.

They believe in their hearts that getting the best center in Basketball is inevitable. And why shouldn't they.......they always do. But still the entitlement is annoyng.

 

[magnifier661]

Listeining to the Laker fans down here is ridiculous. They truly believe that getting Howard is a "must". They don't say it would be "nice" or "great", but rather a must.

They believe in their hearts that getting the best center in Basketball is inevitable. And why shouldn't they.......they always do. But still the entitlement is annoyng.

Yeah living in this area sometimes makes me sick. They really do feel the entitlement...

 

[magnifier661]

tell him that the Matt Kemp line is BS. They have multiple buyers lined up for the Dodgers, including Magic Johnson.

Who was the last guy you heard was lined up to buy the Hornets, but only if they took on another 50M in contracts to guys in their 30's? With zero lotto picks involved?

He replied:

I get all that. I think they should just abolish the Hornets personally. The NBA can't keep allowing the straggler to stick around. They've struggled since day one. Cut em loose already

Guess that means, you are right and he has nothing to say.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Stern should resign? I disagree. If anyone should it's Dell Demps.

He agreed to take on a package that would have absolutely crippled their future. The future pick would have been from Dallas, a perennial playoff team, would have been a late first. Odom is 32, Scola is 31 with nearly $40m left on his long-term deal, Kevin Martin is owed $24m and is just a few years from being 30.

Hornet fans should be terrified they have such a myopic GM running their team. New Orleans should throw Stern a parade after he saved their team from Demp and landed very solid pieces for the future.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I've been thinking this for a week. Everyone points to Demps as some kind of sad figure who got his work tromped on from on high, when in reality he made the stupidest deal since Chris Wallace or Kevin McHale and wondered why the owners said "hell, no." How does he have a job?

 

[Draco]

I do think the Hornets need to get an owner before the draft lottery. How bad will it look if they end up with the #1 and #2 picks or something?

Having David Stern as an owner of a franchise is an unfair advantage to that franchise. He has intimate knowledge of teams strategic direction, the inter-workings of other owners and franchises. It's an unfair advantage to the team he oversees. Everyone dismisses it at the moment because the Hornerts look like a lottery team. But what if they had a chance to win a championship?

I don't necessarily disagree with any of the decisions that went down over the last few days, only that the league needs to sell the Hornets ASAP even if they have to do it at a loss below market value.

 

[magnifier661]

I do think the Hornets need to get an owner before the draft lottery. How bad will it look if they end up with the #1 and #2 picks or something?

Having David Stern as an owner of a franchise is an unfair advantage to that franchise. He has intimate knowledge of teams strategic direction, the inter-workings of other owners and franchises. It's an unfair advantage to the team he oversees. Everyone dismisses it at the moment because the Hornerts look like a lottery team. But what if they had a chance to win a championship?

I don't necessarily disagree with any of the decisions that went down over the last few days, only that the league needs to sell the Hornets ASAP even if they have to do it as a loss below market value.

I've been saying this all along. Too much of a conflict of interest. Problem is, who's gonna buy them? Maybe if the NBA would allow the team to move, they would have many options open. Sucks for NOLA, but the nature of the beast.

 

[Masbee]

http://sportstwo.com/threads/202161...er-.-.-.-FML?p=2696432&viewfull=1#post2696432

Fuck LA douchebags and their self centered sense of entitlement. Fuck them and every one of their ref assisted "championships", which only fuel the insane reaction of their idiot brained sports writers.

Fuck you Bill. I hope the Lakers suck balls for eternity and that causes you torment in your grave.

The nasty sense of entitlement that Lakers fans have is so deep they can't even see it on themselves.

Your friend is among them. His opinions are laughable.

You can tell him I said so.

I am sorry however for posting while drinking. Never a good idea.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Laker fans argument is basic: Our package was better

On what planet? They say the Hornets could have flipped these guys for young players and picks but I can guarantee that none of them would have landed a prospect anywhere close to Eric Gordon. Factor in the MN pick and their argument is even more laughable.

 

[RR7]

Laker fans argument is basic: Our package was better

On what planet? They say the Hornets could have flipped these guys for young players and picks but I can guarantee that none of them would have landed a prospect anywhere close to Eric Gordon. Factor in the MN pick and their argument is even more laughable.

yeah, somehow their package was better. Gasol and Odom. Well, we saw Odom's value was a future first and....nothing. So Gasol was supposed to somehow bring back BOTH a young player equal to Gordon AND a pick like Minny unprotected. And Aminu and Kaman. Riiiight.

 

[MickZagger]

My hatred for the Lakers runs so deep that if someone tells me they're a Laker fan, in the back of my mind I question their character.

 

[BrianFromWA]

If their package was better, why haven't they traded Gasol to HOU for what HOU was going to give NOH?

 

[Shooter]

Your friend is an idiot, magnifier661.

The league "manipulated" where they wanted an NBA star to go?? Of course, they did--the league OWNS the New Orleans franchise. It's their right to do what they see is best for their own roster. All they were trying to do was get the best value for Paul, and that's what they did. The Clipper deal was better for them than the Laker deal. Period.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If their package was better, why haven't they traded Gasol to HOU for what HOU was going to give NOH?

You know, that's a good question. Why don't they make that trade? Scola would be a younger poor-man's Pau for them, Martin could be their 6th man, and they would have some picks to boot. In all reality, they probably should make that deal.