No, it isn't collusion, all though it may seem like it. Anti-trust/monopoly law doesn't apply to the NBA since their labor is allowed collective bargaining rights.
you're right that defining this as collusion is incorrect. it seems to me the question is what the agreement among the owners says with respect to how the hornets are to be managed. i've never seen that agreement.
I don't like players dictating where they go, but I like Stern dictating that even less. I don't like the deal for the rox but I don't think the league should be able to kill a deal like this either. New orleans obviously thought this was the best offer for the team. They have to be able to run the team like they want or they need to just shut the franchise down. We can't get free agents to Houston, how will they get them to NO of Paul walks with nothing in return.
If the Hornets took on $1 more than they gave out, no conspiracy in the world could justify reversing this decision by the league. Good luck in court.
Pretty sure signings and tradings made around Hornets does not revolve around nba owners voting, that's stupid on so many levels.
