Chattel

Eric Gordon and the NBA Hornets were unable to come to an agreement over a contract extension. Eric Gordon, who won a gold medal at the World Championships, was unable to reach agreement with the worst team in the Western Conference of the NBA. Let's rewind a sec. Eric Gordon is the best player on the Hornets, by far. The Hornets are owned by the league itself. Therefore, the guys who run the game run the trades. If they wanted to create a winning team, they're in a pretty awesome spot. If they wanted to bleed the team of its great players through terrible trades and leave the franchise in such a position that it is cheap enough (by being free of burdensome, non-rookie contracts) to buy during a down economy, they could do so. The team would need good draft picks, though. However, due to other league rules, they would also need to meet minimum salary levels. And, due to the need to keep up appearances in order to sell tickets, they'd have to have a coach and general manager who want to win.

Coach Monty Williams and General Manager Dell Demps have pretty much rocked out. Demps engineered an amazing trade for Chris Paul that was approved by all involved (Lakers, Rockets, Hornets). Until the NBA realized they could veto the trade. David Stern/Stu Jackson did so. Chris Paul went instead to the Clippers who had just signed a proven yet old shooting guard who had come off of the one time amnesty wire. The Clippers signed Chauncey Billups for dirt cheap ($1.1 million for a former Finals MVP) right before realizing they could suddenly trade the previously untradeable (and potential building block) Eric Gordon.

Boom.

Gordon was traded to New Orleans.

Now, the NBA Hornets have not signed Gordon to an extension. Why? Money committed to a player (even an amazing young shooting guard like Eric Gordon) means a higher price for a franchise. David Stern is destroying the value of the New Orleans Hornets so that someone will actually buy the team.

Currently, the Hornets ostensibly have two or three potential buyers. Ostensibly + potential = not so much. The key to finding a buyer in this economy after a polarizing lockout is lowering the purchasing price of the team. To do so, without lowering the value of other NBA teams, means not having many liabilities but having potential. How does one get that in this NBA? Don't sign Eric Gordon for the long term and make sure the team sucks to ensure good draft picks.

It's sad. It's dirty. And hopefully the people of New Orleans realize this and let Stern know they don't need nor want a professional basketball team, despite his hollow post-Katrina promise.

The Plight of Eric Gordon

Eric Gordon is one of the best shooting guards in the League right now. He played on the gold-winning 2010 World Championship team. He kinda got the shaft in being traded from the Clippers to the NBA-owned New Orleans Hornets after a suspicious series of events including a segment where he was assured that he would not be traded.

Now, he's waiting on the Commissioner of the NBA to give him a contract extension. From Yahoo!:

Gordon’s agent, Rob Pelinka, has engaged in recent contract talks with the Hornets’ front office, but hasn’t received an official offer. Gordon told Yahoo! Sports on Monday night he was informed by Hornets general manager Dell Demps that Stern must decide whether to extend an offer. The NBA owns the Hornets. Gordon wants to re-sign with New Orleans, but is uncertain if or when Stern will reach out to him or Pelinka.

While I'm sure everything will work out and Stern will deign to give Gordon an extension, the fact that (failed Vancouver Grizzlies General Manager) Stu Jackson is getting a chance to question any and all decisions by Dell Demps reeks.



Can we just rename them the NBA Hornets?