So what? This is a competitive league; if NO, a Western Conference team, has the option to trade Paul to a team that would potentially dominate their conference, or to a team that didn't even make the playoffs last year, they should gravitate to the latter. And with NO currently being owned by the league (read: the other owners), they all have a vested interest in NOT creating a new juggernaut.
If Stern had blocked a trade of Howard to the Lakers, that would be one thing. But this team was owned by the owners as a group... and if they wanted to take a vote as to whether this trade should go through, that should be their right.
Stern just avoided the embarrassment of such a vote by nixing the deal.
Here is the rub. The ownership told the GM that he was free to make a trade. He wasn't told it would have to be voted on, he wasn't told it was subject to approval. He was told he could do his job. He did it in a manner that had virtually all of the NBA analysts I saw complimenting him for getting the better end of the deal. This decision had nothing to do with the best interests of New Orleans and was solely based on the best interests of the owners of the other franchises. I'm not sure if this could be considered collusion but I feel it may be just short. New Orleans is not going to get a thing in return for Chris Paul now. Who in their right mind would even consider buying this franchise at this point? They have basically been cast into the wastelands.
Also, it is conjecture the vote would have cancelled the trade anyway. All I've heard are the names Cuban & Gilbert. That is a long way from winning a vote.
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