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David Stern pressuring to make a deal; Houston pressured; GM's say conspiracy

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Rudy, Dec 13, 2011.

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Rudy Member

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Guys we never had a shot of trading with the League owned Hornets.
Found this from on an NBA board.

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/33847714

Clippers still resisting NBA's pressure to deal with Chris Paul
CBS Sports

The Clippers were still resisting overtures for a Chris Paul trade Tuesday after the talks were revived for the second time in 24 hours under pressure from the NBA league office to reach a resolution, sources told CBSSports.com.

Having claimed veteran point guard Chauncey Billups off amnesty waivers as a possible precursor to the deal, the Clippers nonetheless were under no pressure to dive back into the talks. The league office, which is assisting the Hornets in the trade discussions in its role as the de factor owner of the team, already has nixed a trade that would've sent Paul to the Lakers. The Knicks used what few assets and cap maneuverability they had to get free-agent center Tyson Chandler, and Paul has not indicated a willingness to give a long-term commitment as part of a trade to the Golden State Warriors.

"The (league) has no choice" but to make sure Paul is traded to the Clippers, a person on the periphery of the talks said Monday night.

The talks that would never die were revived Monday night, with a twist that was enraging some rival general managers. The Clippers' winning waiver claim on Billups allowed them to include point guard Eric Bledsoe in the deal, which observers believed could push it over the finish line, league sources told CBSSports.com.

By claiming Billups for about $2 million, the Clippers were able to solve the dilemma of not having another point guard on the roster -- Mo Williams likely slides into the Jason Terry sixth man role, if he isn't included in the trade or waived with amnesty. Thus, L.A. could responsibly include Bledsoe in a blockbuster package for Paul.

The fact that Paul is dictating the terms by limiting the teams he'd agree to stay at least two years with to those that reside in L.A., Clippers GM Neil Olshey has plenty of leverage. So Olshey's resistance to including Bledsoe, sharpshooting guard Eric Gordon and the Timberwolves' unprotected 2012 first-round pick is no longer an issue.

The deal, if finally consummated, will be better than what the league was demanding earlier in the day, when the Clippers wisely walked away from the talks.

Nonetheless, the Clippers were signaling to rival teams that they've "moved on" from the Paul saga and already had reached out to Billups in an effort to assure him his status as a leader and intergral part of the team were secure, sources said.

Another person tied to the talks said he does not believe the NBA wants Paul traded out of New Orleans, where prospective owners are being sought to rescue the troubled franchise.

"Seems like a charade to me," the person said.

That set up a fascinating duel of who has the leverage and whether the franchise would be more valuable with or without Paul. In rejecting the three-team trade with the Lakers and Rockets, the league office obviously was saying that the franchise would be better off keeping Paul than trading him for veteran players Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic, plus draft picks.

A package from the Clippers including Chris Kaman's expiring $12 million contract, Al-Farouq Aminu, Bledsoe and either Eric Gordon or the Timberwolves' unprotected 2012 first-round pick would seem to allow the Hornets to rebuild with prospects and picks -- which certainly would be preferable to Paul leaving as a free agent after the season with the Hornets getting nothing in return.

Paul's options, however, would be somewhat limited since the major-market teams he prefers are mostly capped out next summer, starting with his preferred destination, the Knicks. Paul would, however, have the option of going to Dallas, or to Brooklyn if Deron Williams opted out and decided to sign with his hometown Mavericks. Both players would have to take one year and about $25 million less than their current teams would be able to offer them under the new collective bargaining agreement.

The Paul negotiations were declared dead earlier Monday, after which Olshey spoke with the Los Angeles media and said, "We felt it was in the best interest of the team to keep this roster intact."

But other executives were circulating this conspiracy theory Monday night: Was it a coincidence that the Clippers were able to get Billups for just $2 million when they were negotiating a related trade with the league office, which knew the competing bids? The salacious banter was perpetuated by the conflict of interest inherent in the NBA's handling of the trade for the Hornets, who were taken over by the league in December 2010.

A previous deal sending Paul to the Lakers was nixed by the league office in its role as overseer for the Hornets' personnel moves when commissioner David Stern and executives Joel Litvin and Stu Jackson determined that the package of players New Orleans was getting from the Lakers and Rockets wasn't acceptable. The deal was vetoed with no explanation from the league, a source said.

The league, under heavy scrutiny after vetoing the original deal, tried to resurrect the deal by pressuring Houston into giving up more players and picks. The deal died soon after.

While rival GMs saw little problem with a package of Odom, Scola, Martin, Dragic and draft picks, the league wanted younger prospects and draft picks instead -- a package closer to what the Clippers have to offer, which would be more attractive to prospective buyers.

While it was understood that Paul would gladly sign a new five-year, $100 million contract next July with the Lakers if traded there, his commitment to the Clippers would only be for two years. As part of the deal, Paul would not promise to sign a new contract, only that he would not opt out of his current one after the season, sources said. That, and the league's limited options for trade partners, compressed the list of assets the Clippers were willing to give up.

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#1 Rudy, Dec 13, 2011

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Sounds about right, now what I really want to know is if Morey agreed because fact is: a deal was sent to the league for approval for a 2nd time!

#2 Rockets Jones, Dec 13, 2011
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I seriously, seriously, seriously want this to go to court, with the NBPA and Paul's agent taking the NBA to the cleaners for conflict of interest, interference, and collusion/anti-trust. NBA really f-ed itself, squashing the best possible deal on the table. They allow a lesser deal to pass, and the Rockets, Lakers, and even Hornets have serious grounds to sue.

NBA could have pressed for rules in the new CBA to prevent this sort of thing, but let it go (I don't remember hearing one proposal regarding it). Stern can't just arbitrarily kill a fair deal because he and the owners are tired of upcoming FAs leveraging trades to better markets.

There should have been a new "lame duck" clause that if an extension is not offered or is refused in the summer leading up to a final season (on a max contract?) - everything, including trades, is off the table until the end of that season.

Teams can still get something back via S&T, but this would force the players to stay and play out their deal with no Carmelo saga involved.

I don't care that guys want out....but it's a disruptive thing for everyone (player, FO, teammates, fans, prospective bidders) for these things to drag out into the season.

#3 emjohn, Dec 13, 2011

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Rudy said: ↑

The (league) has no choice" but to make sure Paul is traded to the Clippers,
Click to expand...

Why is that? They aren't the only bidders left.

#4 Jet036, Dec 13, 2011
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If CP3 gets traded to the Clippers for a lopsided deal in favor of the Hornets, not only do the value of the franchise go up(relatively speaking), it also backs up Stern's "basketball decision". It would allow the league to say that it's correct in blocking the first deal.

Still no words from Stern or anyone at the league office what they meant by "independent caretaker" when they hired Demps in the first place.

#5 meh, Dec 13, 2011
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Yeah, don't let CP3 go to Lakers (that's fine, except we got hosed) to placate the other owners, but let him pair up with Blake Griffin to form an exciting always-on-TV tandem.

#6 ROXTXIA, Dec 13, 2011
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Is the league wants to save face, NO needs to get back a young star in return. That would be the deal reportedly offered by Boston, but that trade would be a PR disaster for obvious reasons.

Whatever happens, I'm already bored by the entire charade, and at this point, all I want to see is D-Mo throw down some dunks.

#7 Raven, Dec 13, 2011

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yeah, i'm about ready for this league to blow up.

#8 Rocketman95, Dec 13, 2011
Rudy Member

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Regarding Billups, the Clippers winning offer was just $32???

ESPN's Larry Coon:

Clippers got Chauncey Billups for the grand sum of $2,000,032 Obviously.

https://twitter.com/#!/LarryCoon/status/146456012864499712

#9 Rudy, Dec 13, 2011

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Groogrux said: ↑

yeah, i'm about ready for this league to blow up.
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Same here. I'm about done with the NBA.

#10 LonghornFan, Dec 13, 2011
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LonghornFan said: ↑

Same here. I'm about done with the NBA.
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I'm about this close too, but I can't abandon my Rockets.

#11 ascaptjack, Dec 13, 2011
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Screw this. I'm gonna go watch college ball. Call me when they get rid of Stern's crooked ass.

#12 dachuda86, Dec 13, 2011
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What consipracy? The league-owned Hornets took on more salary than they gave out in the NO-LA-Houston deal. That takes money from all the other owners. It should have been shot down for business reasons alone. It's a no-brainer. How are people not getting this?

#13 acsorelle4, Dec 13, 2011

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ascaptjack said: ↑

I'm about this close too, but I can't abandon my Rockets.
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I'll be a Rocket fan for life and still watch/attend games, but no more NBA league pass, etc. Just zero interest and I don't care to support the NBA as a whole as long as Stern is commissioner. Done.

#14 LonghornFan, Dec 13, 2011
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I wonder what the backlash will be from Stern once the Lakers and Rockets are headlining a conflict of interest suit against the league.

#15 Pete the Cheat, Dec 13, 2011
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acsorelle4 said: ↑

What consipracy? The league-owned Hornets took on more salary than they gave out in the NO-LA-Houston deal. That takes money from all the other owners. It should have been shot down for business reasons alone. It's a no-brainer. How are people not getting this?
Click to expand...

It's not just about payroll. The team has to play games and be respectable. With that package, they could be in the playoffs and sell more tickets.

But even if youre right that it was about payroll, then why didn't Stern tell Demps to cut payroll BEFORE he negotiatied for 3 weeks?

By all accounts Demps was keeping the league informed, and the veto didn't come until after the deal came to light and other owners complained.

This is simply corrupt and screwed up. The nba is a complete mess

#16 Mr. Clutch, Dec 13, 2011

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Burn in litigation he11 for all I care. Hopefully the NBA gets sued by multiple people.

#17 thetatomatis, Dec 13, 2011
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Mr. Clutch said: ↑

It's not just about payroll. The team has to play games and be respectable. With that package, they could be in the playoffs and sell more tickets.

But even if youre right that it was about payroll, then why didn't Stern tell Demps to cut payroll BEFORE he negotiatied for 3 weeks?

By all accounts Demps was keeping the league informed, and the veto didn't come until after the deal came to light and other owners complained.

This is simply corrupt and screwed up. The nba is a complete mess
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You said it yourself. The owners WHO PAY THE BILLS FOR N.O. COMPLAINED. End of story. Why should they continue to foot the bill for a dying team and pay even more salary for a team with no ownership to facilitate Paul moving to LA? That makes no sense.

#18 acsorelle4, Dec 13, 2011

Rudy Member

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acsorelle4 said: ↑

What consipracy? The league-owned Hornets took on more salary than they gave out in the NO-LA-Houston deal. That takes money from all the other owners. It should have been shot down for business reasons alone. It's a no-brainer. How are people not getting this?
Click to expand...

The "conspiracy" was more on how the Clippers got the winning bid for Billups.

Winning Billups made it possible for the Clippers to now offer Gordon/Bledsoe to the NBA for Paul.

ESPN says $2,000,032 was the Clippers bid.

#19 Rudy, Dec 13, 2011
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acsorelle4 said: ↑

What consipracy? The league-owned Hornets took on more salary than they gave out in the NO-LA-Houston deal. That takes money from all the other owners. It should have been shot down for business reasons alone. It's a no-brainer. How are people not getting this?
Click to expand...

agree....i mean they said they don't wanna loose there main star already lost west. but oh well whats done is done people sheesh!!!

#20 Rednation713, Dec 13, 2011

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