Chris Paul to Lakers: David Stern Blocking Paul Trade Was Best Thing for Lakers

Chris Paul joining the Lakers would have been a tragedy for Los Angeles.

David Stern blocked the trade of Chris Paul for “basketball reasons.” Unfortunately, Stern had the wrong reasons. Stern was more concerned with what other owners were saying about the move than realizing the trade screwed the Lakers.

See, the blocking of the trade was simply collusion—not that anyone will do anything about it. Owners were upset because the NBA’s most talented point guard was going to play in the massive market of Los Angeles. The owners hid behind the alias of wanting small-market teams to be able to keep their star players, but in reality they simply didn’t want to see L.A. potentially win more championships.

Regardless, the blocking of the trade saved the Lakers’ franchise for years. In the three-team trade, Los Angeles would have sent Pau Gasol, who is currently the second-best big man in all of the NBA, to Houston.

The NBA is a league run by the big men. A point guard-centric team hasn’t won a championship in decades—especially a point guard like Paul on iffy knees.

The Lakers would have also lost Lamar Odom to New Orleans. Odom is the best sixth man in all of basketball and can play multiple positions, and losing Odom would have eliminated any effective depth the team had.

Gasol and Kobe Bryant thrive together so well currently because Gasol is the best when it comes to the pick-and-roll. Take Gasol away, and there aren’t enough shots to go around between Bryant and Paul.

Additionally, the departure of Odom and Gasol would have left the Lakers with one viable option at center: Andrew Bynum. Bynum, as in the man who is suspended the first five games of next season for taking a cheap shot at an opposing player and storming off the court half-naked.

Owners also seemed upset that Bryant and Paul had some secret and grand scheme to lure Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to Los Angeles, which would have been impossible.

If the Lakers traded for Paul, they wouldn’t have had the assets to trade for Howard. Bynum and picks won’t get it done. Several teams have much better offers for Howard if the Paul trade had gone through. If they planned on waiting for Howard to hit free agency, they wouldn’t have had the money to afford Howard anyway.

The non-Paul trade now allows the Lakers to pursue a trade for Howard. The Lakers have some pieces they can move, although trading Odom to the Dallas Mavericks was an idiotic move.

Howard is a much better building block for the future than Paul, especially considering the Lakers need to begin thinking of a future without Bryant.

In the end, Lakers fans should relax. Yes, the blocking of a trade by the commissioner is highly unethical. That being said, Lakers fans need to realize the block saved the franchise. This is the same franchise that got to trade Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant. This is the same franchise that obtained Pau Gasol for next to nothing.

Lakers management knows what it is doing. Relax, Lakers fans; the future is still bright.