http://www.chron.com/sports/rockets...about-failed-three-team-2409742.php#loopbegin Calling NBA commissioner David Stern's assertion the Rockets' vetoed trade for Pau Gasol was never considered a done deal "an outright lie," a person with direct knowledge of the process said Stern was informed throughout the process and the day of the trade before he refused to let it go through. Acting as the top executive of the Hornets, Stern would not allow Hornets general manager Dell Demps to complete the deal that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers and Gasol to the Rockets with Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Goran Dragic going to New Orleans. Stern said in a media conference call last week that he was only "generally informed about the discussions with teams." He emphasized that Demps never thought the deal to be complete and that his decision as final say on the move was not unlike the customary role of owners during trade negotiations. But according to two individuals with knowledge of the talks, Demps had assured Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak throughout the day that Stern and other NBA officials had been given all the details of the deal and had signed off on it. "He said that David was briefed and that it was a done deal," one of the individuals with knowledge of the talks said. "He (Demps) said multiple times that he briefed both of his local officials, (Hornets president) Hugh Webber and (Hornets chairman) Jac Sperling, and they and Dell at regular intervals were updating (NBA vice presidents) Stu Jackson and Joel Litvin and that they told David himself throughout the day. Also, Hugh and Jac, who were updating the league office, understood it to be a deal." Morey on Saturday again declined to comment, citing as he did Thursday the advice of counsel not to discuss details of the conversations or his feelings about the NBA decision. One of the individuals with knowledge of the talks said Rockets owner Leslie Alexander had told Morey not to comment in any way on his feelings about the trade being disallowed. Another person with knowledge of the Rockets' thinking said there are no plans to take legal action. But Morey and Alexander were livid about Stern's action, according to the person with knowledge of the discussions that day and since. Alexander had tried to speak directly with Stern after the deal was originally nixed and again as Morey, Demps and Kupchak tried to rebuild the deal, but did not get a returned call until after the Lakers had pulled out of the discussions. By then, the person said, Alexander had no interest in speaking with Stern and has declined to speak with him since. The Rockets had hoped that with Gasol and the added cap space to sign Nene, who instead returned to the Nuggets. With the bolstered front line, the Rockets intended to bring back Chuck Hayes to a roster they believed would then be in position to contend in the West. "You (Alexander) can say he was very angry," the person, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. "He was on the phone with Daryl too many times that day to count. When the deal finally got done, he got a call from Daryl saying the deal was done. Afterwards, the commissioner said he didn't think the deal was done. It was amazing. Daryl is extremely efficient and does things the proper way. (Lakers owner) Jerry Buss has been in the league 30 years and has made countless deals and thought the deal was done. Mitch Kupchak thought the deal was done. There was no question in his (Alexander's) and Daryl's minds the deal was done." But Stern said last week that he never signed off on the deal and that Demps never thought that he had, calling reports that there was an agreement an effort of individuals with vested interests speaking anonymously to force the Hornets to make the trade.
Les Alexander and Daryl won't say anything in public. But this is their statement as released by Feigen using "sources". Wow, the best way to retaliate is to have a good season against all odds. Y' know, beat NOH and LAC everytime we meet. We make our statement on the floor.
thank you Mr Stern Scola is the best thing that happened to the Rockets these past 5 years the trade was totally crap in my opinion, we gave up way too much
Stern is an honorless peace of crap. He should have let the deal go through for the simple reason that the the GM and Rox agreed to a deal that he was informed about the whole way and didn't stop. That would have been the honorable and right thing to do even if the hornets could have gotten a better deal. Everyone agreed the deal was done. He abused his position as commissioner not letting it through knowing that none of the parties could criticize him for his decision for fear of fines or future recriminations. Man I wish congress would investigate and subpoena this peace of crap.
The commissar lying? I'm sorry but I'm not buying it. He wouldn't do such things. He is an honest man, like when he tells us that there is no such thing as a star call when it comes to officiating.
I guess we now know which team is leaking rumors whenever the Rockets are involved and why this FO is disliked around the league.
What about the rest of the roster though? Kmart/Lee>Lee/Twill, Lowry/Dragic>Lowry>Flynn, Knicks first pick+Rox protected pick>no pick. I would thought that was a wash because it would have given us flexibility and the chance to keep Hayes. The 2nd deal though, where we give up PP and Lowry on top of the guy we gave up already? Screw that.
I know many of you will not like what i am about to say, but the past is the past. Let it go. It was for the best.
