NBA Trade Rumors: Stern's Veto Putting Three Teams at a Real Disadvantage

NBA Commissioner David Stern has significantly disturbed the preseason preparations, already ridiculously rushed, for three of his teams. 

How is this right when, from all appearances, nobody’s done anything wrong—or anything particularly shocking or unprecedented, until the Commish got involved?

How can Stern, whether independently or at the behest of a coterie of owners, un-trade six players?

All three teams involved have appealed his decision, but were still in the unenviable spot of welcoming these players-in-limbo to their first session of team building.

“Harmony and me, we’re pretty good company,”

Not-quite-New Orleans Hornet/Houston Rocket-for-now Kevin Martin opined to the Houston Chronicle, “[GM] Daryl [Morey] showed his cards...You just have to put your teammates first and nothing else after that.” 

That almost sounds like the language of the lockout, doesn’t it?

“Looking for an island in our boat upon the sea,”

Not-quite-New Orleans Hornet/Los Angeles Laker-for-now Lamar Odom told the LA Times from his home, “To me, I would think it’s better to stay away…It’s a little weird.”

“Harmony, gee, I really love you and I want to love you forever,”

Not-quite Los Angeles Laker/New Orleans Hornet-for-now Chris Paul practiced, but said naught to the media.

“And dream of the never, ever, ever leaving harmony!”

And Lakers soon-to-be former starting point guard/NBAPA President Derek Fisher categorized Stern’s action as “arbitrary” as he and union head Billy Hunter ponder legal action on Paul’s behalf. Lovely.

ESPN’s SportsCenter has reported that Stern has clarified to Hornets GM Dell Demps his basketball concerns regarding the original swap—player age and number of draft choices—and numerous media outlets verify that New Orleans is indeed working diligently to comply with Paul’s request for a trade.

In the meantime, Morey and new Rockets Coach Kevin McHale had to look on in vain as their little-center-who-could, Chuck Hayes, chugged off to Sacramento for about $5 million a year.  Will their pursuit of free agent center Nene be similarly derailed?

The Lakers have a gimpy Gasol, a sulking Odom, an overweight Artest (by whatever name) and, like Houston, a brand new coach in Mike Brown.

And the Hornets have Paul for now, still no owner and 10,000 season ticket holders feeling a bit misled.

Commissioner Stern’s had a rough second half to 2012.

Labor strife will take its toll on a man of his age.

Now, he needs to realize that running a league is a big enough job and let someone independent of the league office run the New Orleans Hornets.

His moonlighting is interfering with his day job.

If he's not careful, he and Sir Elton will be singing "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" next.