Basketball Reasons: What we have yet to Understand

BASKETBALL REASONS!

That was the reasoning for David Stern's infamous trade veto regarding Chris Paul going to the Lakers, basketball reasons. Well Mr. Stern lets revisit this debacle shall we.

Forced with the unbearable task of moving its Superstar PG, New Orleans actually put together a respectable package for itself. They managed to acquire two adequate scorers in Kevin Martin (17 ppg) & Luis Scola (15 ppg), Mr. Versatility in Lamar Odom, and the serviceable Goran Dragic. Now while this appears to be a lost season for Odom (career lows across the board), Martin and Scola would both be welcome additions on a team that struggles to score points (88.5 ppg) & Dragic would be a competent backup for PG Jarrett Jack...But Stern cancelled that trade for again "basketball reasons"...so he says.

So now lets analyze the deal Stern approved for the Hornets. Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon, Al Farooq-Aminu, and Minnesota's first round pick. Now on paper that seems like a pretty good haul, Kaman's a former All-Star, Gordon's a future one, Aminu is a decent prospect, and Minnesota pick was expected to be a high one. Yet for reasons unknown, Chris Kaman is being ostracized, Eric Gordon has only played 2 games, Aminu has been atrociously inconsistent, and Minnesota may actually sneak into the playoffs. To compound all this, Kaman will likely leave at seasons end, Gordon hasn't signed an extension which means he'll likely leave this summer as well, and that high value pick wont be nearly as high barring a significant shift in the play of Minnesota.

So to recap Mr. Stern, you denied the Hornets two quality starters, a versatile big man, and a backup PG for a Center who barely plays, a SG who never plays (both of whom likely will be in different uniforms next year) an underachieving SF, and an iffy draft pick. How exactly does this benefit New Orleans in the short or long term in regard to its ability to play quality basketball. After all, isn't that why you approved the deal in the first place?