The tyrant's league

John Marcuz, Reporter 12/16/2011

The NBA is finally back and the free season is underway. Everyone should be happy right? Well not Chris Paul. The New Orleans Hornets’ point guard wants out, and he wants to leave now.

Paul demanded a trade back on December 7th, and the Hornets needed to oblige, otherwise at the end of the season they’d lose their best player and gain nothing for it. Paul named his wishes; for example, New York (with long time friend and player, Carmelo Anthony) or even to a team with more likely trade options, the Los Angeles Lakers.

New York backed out fast: they lacked enough salary cap and the all valuable draft picks that New Orleans management wanted. The Lakers, however, had already talked about clearing house. Everyone was on the trading block for the right price, except for Kobe Bryant who they value as the franchise center piece. The main trading keys for the Lakers consist of all star power forward Pau Gasol and second best center in the league Andrew Bynum. However, the Lakers would never trade two of the league’s best big men for one player. Their final trading piece was Lamar Odom, the point forward (a combination of speed and ball handling in the body of a small or power forward) who poses a constant threat to other teams. With these three pieces for trades, the Lakers had a serious chance to make big changes.

They had it all ready to go: the perfect 3 team trade. The Lakers would send Odom to the Hornets, and Gasol to Houston (the third team providing players and picks for the Hornets). Houston would send four young players and their first round pick to the Hornets, and the Hornets would then pass Chris Paul to the Lakers. Everyone gets what they want.

Wrong. The final result was a step-in from league commissioner David Stern, who slammed the hammer and declared no deal. Everyone was in shock until the commissioner said the league owned Hornets wanted more from the Lakers.

Analyst for ESPN were equally confused, “It doesn’t make sense not to accept the trade, four starters, a back up point guard and a first round pick, for one player.”

The league has it’s reasons however and decided to accept a trade from the Clippers this week for a few talented players and the possible number one pick in this years upcoming draft.