....this from the guy coaching the team that used Jerry West to steal Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies. Trying to make sure somebody else doesn't one-up that transaction by stealing CP3.
Pj said exactly what many were thinking- how do you facilitate a trade with N.O. if they are owned by the league in this interim phase?...
Sure......and his motive?? To prevent another team in the West from pulling off a heist like they pulled of with Pau.
you're still talking about Pau Gasol? didn't GM Chris Wallace pull that deal with Mitch Kupchak? you know Phil Jackson's motives? he brings up a good point, is all...
PJ knows the irony in what he said. I doubt the NBA will trade CP3 while they own the team. If PJ retires after this season, he won't be affected anyway.
I'm beginning to seriously wonder about the situation in New Orleans. If that team is seriously losing money and if they really can't find a buyer for the team, which is obvious, since the league bought it, then what alternatives do they have but to eliminate major payroll to make it sellable. If a buyer isn't interested because it is not profitable, then the NBA faces two choices, close up the franchise and disburse the talent somehow or trade away all the payroll and see if they can sell the franchise and get back the money they paid for it. Can anybody think of any other logical alternative here???? Chouest bought 25% of the team for $62 million in 2007. If we use that as a gauge along with MJ's purchase of the Bobcats, I am going to guestimate that the NBA spent $250-300 million to buy out Shinn and Chouest plus if they are running a budget deficit, they are having to put money into the franchise every month. That's around $10 million per team for the remaining 29 teams, some of whom are unprofitable themselves. I would think the other owners are pitching a fit to either fold the franchise or dump major salary and sell the team and minimize their losses. So, what options are there outside of gutting the team so an investor can buy it and either move it to a location where they think they can make a profit or simply fold the franchise? And which option causes the NBA owners to lose the less money? Do they want to fold the franchise and hold some sort of draft for the opportunity to take the Hornets players onto other teams? I can't see that being viable. Can't see the owners being able to work that out. The East has about 4 superteams, Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Boston, with NY attempting to build the same way, bringing in megastars. The rest of the East is mediocre and is littered with teams losing money, Indiana, Charlotte, etc. The West has old champions, San Antonio, LA, one of them from a very small market (SA) that has outperformed for years because of their great management and coaching. The other team, LA, has had good management, but they've also had the advantage of a huge market and deep pockets, and, should I say, very favorable trades to build their dynasty. What options does the League and owners have outside of gutting the payroll of that team, and finding a buyer that will give them most or all of their money back?
The NBA was troubled by Shinn's ownership and had to buy the team from him. Stern's goal is to stabilize the franchise. The NBA will sell the Hornets at a loss, perhaps a major loss, to a more financially stable person or group that is actually capable of running the team. Shinn had to go after the sale to Chouest failed. If they keep the Hornets in New Orleans, the new owner will probably get a bargain price. If the NBA takes it's time and allows bids from people that will move the franchise, who knows, the NBA might make a profit on this whole thing.
Jackson might be a hypocrite or whatever (that term is so overused), but he's right on this. How can the NBA make any kind of transaction with another team and not be (rightly) accused of playing favorites.
Well, how can the NBA continue to chunk money into this franchise with no buyer or deal in site? At some point, the economics are going to totally break down here. There is NOTHING going on with the sale of the franchise to another party. NOTHING! Are they gonna give it away to a Gary Chouest type at 50 cents on the dollar????? Where's all the Seattle dudes that supposedly are wanting a franchise back in Seattle????? There is nothing going on here besides a continued bloodletting.
Other owners/gms/coaches should be worried. Honestly, how shocked would you be if Stern sent CP3 to Miami for a Cuban sandwich and a cafecito?
I don't know where the ''SA is a small market'' comes from. San Antonio is actually the 7th largest city in America and the second in Texas.
Just a hunch, but I bet the Hornets sell soon after a new labor deal is reached. When you consider whatever amount the NBA will lose when they sell the team, it isn't so much when you split it among the 29 owners. I don't believe it will be anywhere near $10 million per team. Maybe 1/3 of that. Who knows, maybe the sale happens before a labor deal.
