Posted by Ben Golliver. 

Update 5:05 p.m.: Yahoo Sports reports that in the revised trade, Houston will be sending more young players to New Orleans. This is going to get tight with the money and for Houston post-trade. 

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Take two!

Two days after NBA commissioner David Stern stepped in to veto a 3-team trade that would have sent New Orleans Hornets All-Star point guard to the Los Angeles Lakers, the three sides have reportedly sent in a new proposal to the league office for consideration.

ESPN.com reports that the Hornets, Lakers and Houston Rockets have crafted a new deal for Stern to consider, although the full details are not yet immediately known. Yahoo Sports reports that the Houston Rockets would send Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and a draft pick to New Orleans, as they had in the original offer, but that deal tweaks will occur between the Lakers and Hornets. The original proposal had the Lakers sending forward Lamar Odom to the Hornets and All-Star big man Pau Gasol to the Rockets.

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com confirms that a "framework of revamped trade agreement" has been reached among the parties and that it is now "pending approval of the commissioner." Berger reports that the Rockets' role in the trade is "virtually unchanged," with Houston receiving Gasol in exchange for the package going to New Orleans. He also confirms that the deal tweaks will come between Los Angeles and New Orleans.

The New York Times reported on Friday that the league urged the Hornets to get a "better, younger package" in exchange for Paul to ensure long-term success for the struggling franchise. 

Talks then resumed, with Berger reporting late Friday night that the three sides continued to work into the night, with sources saying that the deal "still had a chance."

Those talks picked up where earlier talks had left off, as the three sides had reportedly agreed to a framework earlier on Thursday before word broke that Stern killed the deal in his role as overseer of the league-owned Hornets. The NBA initially said the trade had been vetoed for "basketball reasons" and issued a full statement on Friday morning.

"We decided, free from the influence of other NBA owners, that the team was better served with Chris in a Hornets uniform than by the outcome of the terms of that trade," Stern's statement read.

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sent a letter to Stern that called the proposed trade a "travesty" while players criticized Stern for stepping in to block the trade.

Posted by Ben Golliver. 

The Boston Celtics and the New Orleans Hornets are reportedly working on a trade, only it's not the one you think.

The Celtics and Hornets had recently been rumored to be engaged in a point guard swap of Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul but multiple sites reported on Friday night that the two teams were instead closing in on a sign-and-trade that would send All-Star forward David West to Boston.

NBA.com reported that the Celtics were "close to [a] deal to land West, who is a free agent. Yahoo Sports reported that the deal would include a 3-year extension worth between $27 and $29 million and would also see the Celtics send back center Jermaine O'Neal and "another player," who would then be re-routed by the Hornets.

Earlier Friday, the Celtics dealt big man Glenn Davis to the Orlando Magic for forward Brandon Bass.

West, 31, averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season for the Hornets, the only NBA team he has played for during his 8-year NBA career. The 2-time All-Star tore his ACL back in March but decided to opt out anyway. He was declared healthy in October.

Posted by Ben Golliver. 

Less than 24 hours after NBA commissioner David Stern stepped in to veto a 3-team trade that would have sent New Orleans Hornets All-Star point guard to the Los Angeles Lakers, the three sides have reportedly resumed talking.

Yahoo Sports reports, with confirmation from Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, that the Hornets, Lakers and Houston Rockets are re-engaged in trade talks in an attempt to "find a new way" to consummate a trade that would have sent Lakers All-Star big man Pau Gasol to the Rockets and Lakers forward Lamar Odom to the Hornets, along with Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic and other considerations. 

The three sides had reportedly agreed to a framework earlier on Thursday before word broke that Stern killed the deal in his role as overseer of the league-owned Hornets. The NBA initially said the trade had been vetoed for "basketball reasons" and issued a full statement on Friday morning.

"We decided, free from the influence of other NBA owners, that the team was better served with Chris in a Hornets uniform than by the outcome of the terms of that trade," Stern's statement read.

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sent a letter to Stern that called the proposed trade a "travesty" while players criticized Stern for stepping in to block the trade.

According to the New York Times, the league would like the Hornets to get a "better, younger package," to ensure long-term success.

Paul reportedly threatened not to attend the opening of Hornets training camp on Friday, but eventually showed up. ESPN.com reports that Odom showed up late to Lakers camp, met with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and then left without participating.

By Matt Moore  

ESPN reports that the teams involved in the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers which was blocked on Thursday night by the league will appeal the decision to the league. 

If this is orchestrated by the league in the  face of overwhelming outrage from players, the media, and fans (though those in small markets are certainly divided on the issue), it would represent an acceptable way out.

The league can't reverse its own decision without sacrificing massive credibility (which they damaged in the first place with the veto/block), and it would allow the trade to go through after some element of adjustment (say, an additional pick from the Lakers sent to New Orleans). Despite the outrage from several owners, the precedent set by the block stands as something completely outrageous (for more on that, check out Ken Berger's scathing column).

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reports that past procedure for disputed trades involves an arbitrator, a process which could take some time, which the league doesn't have, especially with players threatening not to attend camp Friday. 

Paul is also considering further legal action against the league independently. It's an extremely messy situation in which the league seems to have underestimated the player and public reaction to, and something they need to resolve as quickly and quietly as possible.

According to the L.A. Times, the Lakers can't appeal to NBA office about Chris Paul trade block because the league considers the deal to have been nixed by the Hornets, not the NBA.

Posted by Ben Golliver. 

NBA commissioner David Stern made the controversial decision on Thursday to step in and veto a trade that would have sent New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. The outrage over Stern's alleged over-reaching was fast and furious online, and not just among media and fans.

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger took to Twitter to express his mildly profane and brutally honest thoughts.

"Due to the sabotaging of the LA/NO trade by David Stern," Granger wrote, "and following in the foosteps of my athlete brethern (sic) Metta World Peace and Chad Ochocinco, I'm changing my last name to 'Stern's Bi#&h', effective immediately."

Here's the visual proof. Pretty classic. Especially cool if you happen to be an acorn or squirrel enthusiast.


 
Granger later clarified that he was "obviously kidding."

As both the NBA's Board of Governors and the National Basketball Players Association ratified the league's new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday, Granger's straight talk might have opened him up to a possible fine.

Tension regarding Stern's treatment of players was a hot topic during the lockout. Television commentator Bryant Gumbel criticized Stern for carrying himself like a "modern plantation overseer" and NBPA attorney Jeffrey Kessler said that Stern treated the players "like plantation workers."

Posted by Ben Golliver. 

You knew he wouldn't be cool with this. You knew he wouldn't be cool with this at all.

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has solidified himself as a staunch hard-line owner since All-Star forward LeBron James bailed on his team and "take his talents" to the Miami Heat. Following James' decision, Gilbert penned a letter trashing his former star for his disloyalty, garnering national headlines.

The NBA's latest superstar-driven controversy erupted on Thursday, and Gilbert managed to carve out a starring role for himself in the theatre of the absurd. The New Orleans Hornets attempted to trade All-Star point guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal, only to have NBA commissioner David Stern veto the move according to CBSSports.com's Ken Berger. Stern was able to veto the move because the NBA bought the Hornets and Stern serves as the de facto owner and NBA spokesman Tim Frank said that the "league office declined to make the trade for basketball reasons."

Yahoo Sports obtained a letter written by Gilbert to Stern on Thursday, decrying the potential trade as a "travesty" and requesting that the NBA's owners be allowed to vote on it. Gilbert criticized the deal because he believed it would provide the Lakers with the "best player" and significant financial relief. 

Over the next three seasons this deal would save the Lakers approximately $20 million in salaries and approximately $21 million in luxury taxes. That $21 million goes to non-taxpaying teams and to fund revenue sharing.

I cannot remember ever seeing a trade where a team got by far the best player in the trade and saved over $40 million in the process. And it doesn’t appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard. (They would also get a large trade exception that would help them improve their team and/or eventually trade for Howard.) When the Lakers got Pau Gasol (at the time considered an extremely lopsided trade) they took on tens of millions in additional salary and luxury tax and they gave up a number of prospects (one in Marc Gasol who may become a max-salary player).

I just don’t see how we can allow this trade to happen. I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do. When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?

The Washington Generals, of course, are the always-beaten exhibition opponents of the Harlem Globetrotters. Essentially, Gilbert is saying, the NBA just spend the last five months in a lockout in an effort to improve competitive-balance. Watching the face of a small-market franchise bolt to one of the nation's largest cities and richest teams would undercut those efforts and the league shouldn't go along with it. He's entitled to his opinion, and certainly he's correct in stating that a vast majority of the league's owners would be unhappy watching Paul join Kobe Bryant in a ridiculously talented backcourt.

But NBA trades aren't made in the best interests of all. They should be made in the best interests of the individual owners involved, and Stern personally opened up this can of worms when he pushed for the NBA to buy back the Hornets. He's undercutting New Orleans' basketball decision-makers, he's throwing the futures of multiple players up into the air and he's handcuffing at least three teams -- and potentially more -- on the eve of the free agency period. It's total chaos and he owes the NBA, its teams and its players a full explanation of his decision-making process and what the plan is moving forward.

By Matt Moore  

Update Friday 4:30 p.m. EST

Paul arrived at practice Friday in a black jersey. So for now, he's playing the part of a professional. Lamar Odom arrived at Lakers camp 40 minutes late, spoke with GM Mitch Kupchak, then left. He did not practice with the team. Pau Gasol is not in attendance. We're sure that wasn't awkward at all. 

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Hours after a trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-way trade with the Houston Rockets was blocked by the league, ESPN reports that Paul will not attend Hornets training camp Friday in New Orleans. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reports a Hornets offical said it would be "very surprising" if Paul was in attendance. 

Paul is said to be "fuming" over the blocked trade and considering legal action. Failure to show up for camp will of course result in a fine, levied by both the team and the NBA. Which is convenient, since the NBA owns the team and that's the entire problem. Any fines levied would likely also be included in damages Paul would seek if he were to pursue legal action.

Similarly, Lakers forward Lamar Odom spoke with reporters and said he might skip the first day because "you don't want to be somewhere you're not wanted." The Lakers are obviously facing a serious situation with chemistry, with Pau Gasol described as "devastated" by the initial trade. The Lakers had a championship core and it now has to try and function despite the fact its management had deliberately opted to blow it up. And if you don't think Kobe Bryant was consulted before these moves, well, you're probably right since they didn't consult him on the coaching hire. But still. Going to be an awkward locker room for a while.

This situation threatens to undermind and detonate the fragile peace that had just been signed into form hours before as the league and owners ratified the new CBA. The players surrendered significant financial gains to protect their flexibility of movement. Now the league has simply circumvented that as well using its powers.

We thought the ugliness was over. It was looking like a season, how u. But now we're back to the same questions of fairness, morality, and individual player influence that dominated the discussion for five, locked-out months.

NBA training camp opens Friday.

Posted by Ben Golliver. 

On the same day that reports indicated that the New Orleans Hornets had engineered a 3-team trade that would have sent All-Star point guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers, the trade, which also was to include the Houston Rockets, will not take place as expected.

Yahoo Sports reports that the NBA, which owns the Hornets and has veto power over all personnel moves, stepped in after prompting from unnamed NBA owners at Thursday's Board of Governors meeting.  

The NBA has killed the proposed deal to send Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources tell Yahoo! Sports. The NBA has caved to pressure from owners that the appearance of this deal, on heels of lockout, had to be stopped, sources tell Y! Sports. "The deal is off," a source involved in the talks tells Y! Sports. "It's dead." 

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com confirmed that the blockbuster deal is now "dead" and that the NBA "pulled the plug" on the trade.

As word of the deal's rejection spread, Paul posted a one-word message on Twitter: "Wow."

ESPN.com reported that Paul was "fuming" about the blocked deal and "exploring [his] legal options" to protest the NBA's decision with the help of National Basketball Players Association executive director Billy Hunter. 

NBA.com reported later Thursday that NBA spokesman Tim Frank issued the following statement: "Not true that owners killed the deal...League office declined to make the trade for basketball reasons."