A few weeks ago I lobbied for the NBA to integrate a reality show formula when deciding which players would go down to the D-League. David Stern has taken this idea of incorporating reality show rules and added Big Brother’s ‘the power of veto’ to the NBA; setting the sportsworld ablaze with an unprecedented unilateral move blocking a trade sending Chris Paul to the Lakers . Everyone thinks the Hornets/Lakers (with a side order of Rockets) trade was vetoed because the owners were vehemently opposed to it - especially Mark Cuban, but especially Dan Gilbert. Take a minute and think about why the trade was vetoed. If Stern is going to turn the NBA into a reality show then he can’t have his biggest reality show star, Lamar Odom-Kardashian, playing for a struggling New Orleans franchise. Word is, the producers of ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ were the ones behind the trade veto – who knew Ryan Seacrest’s power grip extended so far. Just a few weeks ago we entered the ‘Nuclear Winter’ of the league and now it seems the NBA has risen from the ashes, this time with a reality-show twist, leaving fans feeling like they are living a Surreal Life.
Why this trade was vetoed, and not the ‘Pau Gasol for a still-infant-Marc Gasol and pocket change’ trade, is beyond me. The Rockets would have inherited Pau Gasol, a deft passing big man tailor made for Rick Adelman’s offense, and draft picks. New Orleans was receiving a breadth of talent in Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Lamar Odom, leaving them flexible with an overstock of talent at both forward positions. Actually, Los Angeles was coming out the weakest after giving up their most valuable asset (yes, even more valuable than Kobe), size, length and depth [wow, that came out wrong]. Even though it was assumed Dwight Howard would eventually La-La-land with the Lakers, if he didn’t – keeping in mind it was a large ‘if’ – the Lakers would have been left with a depleted frontcourt. Kobe and Chris Paul aren’t going to ‘Isaiah/Dumars’ the Lakers to a championship (Luke Walton is no Dennis Rodman). The trade was beneficial to all teams, but owners were afraid of creating another Miami-like 'Super Team' - although if memory serves me correct, I don't believe any 'Super Team' is yet to win a championship.
You know when you go through the ‘make-up/break-up’ phase at the tail end of a relationship? That’s what this feels like. Sure, we have NBA action getting underway this year, but many of the issues which caused the lockout are unresolved. Until the NBA can get all the owners on the same page, the relationship with the fans is going to look less like Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom, and more like Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.
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