sportsjabber.net

Kobe Bryant may have gotten over the Chris Paul trade fiasco, but that does not mean that he has forgiven the role of David Stern and the small market NBA owners in nixing the blockbuster trade.

Stern, the NBA commissioner, who is also acting as the man in charge of the ownerless New Orleans Hornets, gunned down a three team deal involving the Lakers, Hornets and the Houston Rockets for what he called ‘basketball reasons’.

According to various reports though, the move was made after a large number of small market owners, especially Dan Gilbert of the Cleveland Cavaliers, objected to the transfer of yet another superstar to the Lakers. Gilbert wrote a letter to Stern in which he strongly criticized the trade and termed it against the interests of the league.

The infighting between the owners of the trade issue, pretty much exposed the players union claim that the whole NBA lockout episode was due to the difference between the owners. Kobe was quick to remind the fact after the practice on Thursday;

MORE…