The Lakers and Clippers began to reverse fortunes in 2011 when then-Commissioner David Stern blocked a trade for Chris Paul, writes Mark Heisler of The Los Angeles Daily News. New Orleans had worked out a three-team deal that would have sent Paul to the Lakers, but because the franchise was being run by the league at the time, Stern had the power as a representative of ownership to stop it. The Clippers stepped in with an offer of Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman and Minnesota’s unprotected draft pick, which landed them a franchise point guard.
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Changes in the new collective bargaining agreement will force the Lakers to alter the way they have historically operated, Heisler contends in the same piece. Star players have more incentive than ever to stay with their current teams, meaning that any advantages that L.A. once had in free agency will be further neutralized. Heisler lists the top players expected to be on the free agent market in 2017 and contends that every one will remain where they are.
- The Kings have been talking to the Suns about a possible deal for Brandon Knight for several months, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Appearing on a podcast with Zach Lowe, Windhorst said Sacramento is looking for help at point guard and has been talking to Phoenix about Knight since the summer. Knight still has three seasons and nearly $44MM left on his current deal.
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr called out his team in general and two-time MVP Stephen Curry in particular for poor decisions in today’s loss to the Cavaliers, relays Chris Haynes of ESPN. Golden State had 20 turnovers leading to 21 Cleveland points in the 109-108 loss. “A lot of [the turnovers] early was not even due to the pressure,” Kerr said. “It was more just decision-making. Around-the-back passes in the paint, silly plays. We just have to make simple plays, and we talk about that all the time, but we’ve got to make it more of a habit.”
People. Need to stop saying “Stern blocked (cp3 trade)”. He didn’t ‘block’ it as commissioner he said no as GM of New Orleans because it was a bad trade for them. Any actual GM would have done the same.
It was better than the trade they took.
You’re kidding right?
No he’s not kidding. Dragic, Odom, Kevin Martin, Scola, and a first rounder that couldn’t have been worse than rivers was is definitely a better offer
I see where you’re coming from and while those were all proven players, that deal for NO would have sustained mediocrity and delayed the inevitable rebuild.
The trade was blocked because the owners, who owned the Hornets at the time, were pissed that the Lakers were getting Paul after they just fought against that type of thing with a lockout. Stern was just doing his job.
Stern was not the GM, Dell Demps was the GM.
Stern caved into owner pressure, because they were upset that the Lakers were able to figure out how to use the new rules before any one else! Mark Cuban be the biggest cry baby of all of them!