The three-team deal, struck earlier this evening, is in peril of collapsing, sources tell ESPN.com. NBA owners “rotested vigorously that the league-owned Hornets were trading Paul to the star-studded Lakers and convinced NBA commissioner David Stern to intervene,” according to the recently released article.
The headline of NBA.com at 10:20 p.m. ET read: “NBA nixes Paul deal.”
In the proposed deal, Paul would be traded to the Lakers, Houston would send Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Goran Dragic to the Hornets and receive Pau Gasol in return from the Lakers. Also, L.A. would send Lamar forward Odom to the Hornets. (Note: Odom is married to a Kardashian, and no word yet on what Khloé would say about Lamar moving to New Orleans).
Paul was an all-star last year, and averaged 15.8 points and 9.8 assists last season. He plays for a under-sized NBA market, which ESPN notes is an intriguing storyline: “If this deal is approved one of the NBA’s biggest stars from the league-owned small-market Hornets will be moving to one of the NBA’s largest, richest markets.”
Other NBA observers see a problem with Paul moving to a team already boasting an electrifying guard – Kobe Bryant. Ball Don’t Lie believes Paul will dominate the offence. And now “Bryant has to give up the rock? This isn’t to say Kobe can’t drop 50 in any system, but there will be a lot of instincts to overcome for even a player as smart as Kobe. And Mike Brown is going to be coaching this thing?”
As more word leaks out from NBA sources it’s becoming clear the deal isn’t going to be finalized. NBA.com notes: “All the players involved in the trade have been told to report to their teams for the start of training camp on Friday.”
