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Cleaveland Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert’s revealed himself to be a massive whiner. Working backward, his latest rant is against the proposed trade of New Orleans Hornet Star Chris Paul to the LA Lakers, and his previously best known rant was against LeBron James leaving his team for the Miami Heat, and went like this, in part:
As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
Share This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
If you think that’s bad, take a look at the email Gilbert fired off to NBA Commissioner David Stern, according to Yahoo Sports:
Commissioner,
It would be a travesty to allow the Lakers to acquire Chris Paul in the apparent trade being discussed.
This trade should go to a vote of the 29 owners of the Hornets.
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?
Please advise….
Dan G.
The full deal was a complex three team affair that would have sent Paul to LA, while the Lakers Lamar Odom went to New Orleans and LA’s four-time All-Star Pau Gasol went off to the Houston Rockets. But the deal was nixed for “basketball reasons.”
What?
If the NBA blocked the deal for “baketball reasons” then the NBA just plain offers itself up for charges that season outcomes can be fixed by the league. This really looks bad and the LA Lakers should sue the NBA for this action. The grounds of the lawsuit should be monetary damages for actions done by the NBA that are potentially harmful to the business of the LA Lakers organization and the advancement of its ability to do business in it’s market.
If I were the owner of the Lakers, I’d be in court Friday morning.
Stay tuned.