FARK.com: (6800886) Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is writing letters again, now with less Comic Sans

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		Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is writing letters again, now with less Comic Sans (sports.yahoo.com)		81
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hammettman

2011-12-09 04:31:19 AM

Should be a fun day at Laker training camp tomorrow.

Rimjob

2011-12-09 04:35:07 AM

This was ridiculous, and one of the dumbest things David Stern has ever done.

This was NOT a lopsided trade that required Commissar Stern to step in to veto. Hell, there are many Lakers fans that are happy this trade didn't go through.

-The Lakers were going to ship out an all-star forward (Pau Gasol) and the NBA's sixth-man of the year the past season that could be a starter on most teams (Lamar Odom), leaving them with NOTHING at the power forward position.
- The Hornets were getting four good players (Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic) and a first-round draft pick.
- Chris Paul has already told the Hornets he's not re-signing with them and doesn't want to be in New Orleans.

So how are the Hornets better for being stuck with a Chris Paul that a) doesn't want to be there, and b) will leave next year & leave the Hornets with nothing in return?

Darwin's Prophet

2011-12-09 04:50:47 AM

Its not about protecting the Hornets. Its about protecting the luxury tax income Gilbert would get from the Lakers.

Dafatone

2011-12-09 04:53:42 AM

Darwin's Prophet: Its not about protecting the Hornets. Its about protecting the luxury tax income Gilbert would get from the Lakers.

If you're right, that's farked up.

You're probably right.

R.P.M.

2011-12-09 04:56:19 AM

what the heck! why the heck are they listening to...looks at Rimjob 's post.

whelp, nothing to say here.

Now That's What I Call a Taco!

2011-12-09 05:04:47 AM

Anybody else think it's a really bad sign that there's this much durress between small market and big market teams right after a labor agreement was reached?

This really does seem like a big "efff you" to the Lakers by many teams in the league.

oMaJoJ

2011-12-09 05:12:36 AM

Now That's What I Call a Taco!:
This really does seem like a big "efff you" to the Lakers by many teams in the league.

And now based on the new shiatstorm that's brewing, it seems that was an incredibly stupid and short-sighted thing to do. Besides, the trade was actually decent for the Hornets, seeing as they got something back for Paul is going to be leaving NO.

/Dan Gilbert drunk emails everybody in Comic Sans
//everybody knows that subby

culebra

2011-12-09 05:12:45 AM

Let's get this out of the way right now:

m.assetbar.com

Lost Thought 00

2011-12-09 07:19:54 AM

I can only assume that Stern will try and force Paul to sign an extension with NO too. Here's hoping CP3 sues him into resignation.

Lost Thought 00

2011-12-09 07:23:26 AM

Reading the letter more closely, it really does read like a former slave owner dejected by the fact that he can't order around black people at will anymore.

MarkKetch

2011-12-09 07:35:51 AM

Darwin's Prophet: Its not about protecting the Hornets. Its about protecting the luxury tax income Gilbert would get from the Lakers.

I don't think Dan Gilbert, who is worth like $2B, really cares about the little luxury tax income that he'd get from the Lakers. If he was that money starved they would have used the amnesty clause on Baron Davis after day #1 of the new CBA (they still might).

It's pretty obvious that 80% of the league owners don't want the NBA to turn completely into a 5-team league with a bunch of super teams.

Gunny Highway

2011-12-09 07:50:07 AM

MarkKetch: It's pretty obvious that 80% of the league owners don't want the NBA to turn completely into a 5-team league with a bunch of super teams.

Houston would have made out pretty well in this deal.

Who would have been the Lakers PF this year? WHo was coming off the bench for the Lakers this year?

oMaJoJ

2011-12-09 07:54:39 AM

MarkKetch: It's pretty obvious that 80% of the league owners don't want the NBA to turn completely into a 5-team league with a bunch of super teams.

I don't know... that smells like that "competitive balance" BS they were trying to sell

Jsin82

2011-12-09 08:22:31 AM

MarkKetch: It's pretty obvious that 80% of the league owners don't want the NBA to turn completely into a 5-team league with a bunch of super teams.

And how does blocking this trade accomplish that. How is getting the Lakers to give away pieces of their team for Paul better than the Lakers waiting a year and having to give up nothing to get Paul?

When owners (ala Dan Gilbert) are too incompetent to get a supporting cast for their superstar players then they deserve to be crappy small market teams. I don't see San Antonio whining like Farktards, maybe because they're competent. (BTW Miami is only barely ahead of Cleveland in terms of market size)

Excellent link explaining market size in the NBA (and makes "small" market teams look like bigger idiots). Link

oryx

2011-12-09 08:28:56 AM

The Cavaliers would probably lose to the Washington Generals. Maybe he shouldn't put the Generals down.

Yanks_RSJ

2011-12-09 08:29:43 AM

MarkKetch: It's pretty obvious that 80% of the league owners don't want the NBA to turn completely into a 5-team league with a bunch of super teams.

If they really want to solve that problem and create better competitive balance, they'd admit that 30 teams are too many.

MarkKetch

2011-12-09 08:40:32 AM

Jsin82: And how does blocking this trade accomplish that. How is getting the Lakers to give away pieces of their team for Paul better than the Lakers waiting a year and having to give up nothing to get Paul?

I think Gilbert outlined it pretty clearly in his email. Also, I don't believe the Lakers would have the cap space to simply sign Chris Paul as a FA.

How many different teams have won the NBA title in the last decade?

MarkKetch

2011-12-09 08:44:22 AM

Yanks_RSJ: MarkKetch: It's pretty obvious that 80% of the league owners don't want the NBA to turn completely into a 5-team league with a bunch of super teams.

If they really want to solve that problem and create better competitive balance, they'd admit that 30 teams are too many.

They players would never vote to contract teams. Fewer teams = fewer jobs.

During this latest CBA the owners pretty much took the $ instead of working in new restraints that would have helped "balance" things out. If they didn't toss in the towel on that issue there would be no NBA season right now. They settled on the money, so that's their fault.

jayhawk88

2011-12-09 08:46:55 AM

What the F Gilbert?

Over the next three seasons this deal would save the Lakers approximately $20 million in salaries and approximately $21 million in luxury taxes. That $21 million goes to non-taxpaying teams and to fund revenue sharing.

Yeah for like a week, until they signed a bunch of free agents to fill in the void left by Gasol and Odom.

I cannot remember ever seeing a trade where a team got by far the best player in the trade and saved over $40 million in the process.

You know I get that Paul is arguably the best PG in the league right now, but he's not without risk too, playing on basically one and a half legs. There was a not insignificant amount of time the past couple years where we all thought Paul might be done for because of that knee. Meanwhile the Lakers were giving up 19/10 of Gasol and 12/6 of Odom. It's not like they were dumping a couple of bench-riders here.

And it doesn't appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard

Yeah, that was the missing piece in a Howard/Bynum deal, the #30 overall pick in next year's draft. Please.

Maybe if you'd had the foresight to flip LeBron when you could have for something even half as good as what the Hornets would have got in this deal, you wouldn't be looking at another 20 win season Danny Boy.

Yanks_RSJ

2011-12-09 08:54:52 AM

MarkKetch: During this latest CBA the owners pretty much took the $ instead of working in new restraints that would have helped "balance" things out. If they didn't toss in the towel on that issue there would be no NBA season right now. They settled on the money, so that's their fault.

No, see, that's FORCED balance. The economic reality of the NBA is that 30 teams are too many to support without creating artificial restrictions on spending and player movement. I can see why you'd prefer that, since the "suck bad enough to draft a superstar player" was the philosophy behind your team's recent success. Now, if only there were restrictions in place that essentially forced that star player to stay, that would have solved everything...

DamnYankees

2011-12-09 09:01:48 AM

I am speechless. I am without speech.

What in gods name...?

bulldg4life

2011-12-09 09:09:10 AM

When Chris Paul leaves the Hornets next year and NO gets no compensation whatsoever, this deal will definitely look ridiculous.

In a shocking turn of events, David Stern makes a stupid rash decision to exert his power over his league.

airish

2011-12-09 09:09:13 AM

MarkKetch: How many different teams have won the NBA title in the last decade?

6 (Mavs, Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Heat, Pistons)
As compared to 4 from 92-01, 5 from 82-91, 7 from 72-81, 4 from 62-71, and 5 from 52-61. So I'm not really sure what your point is. That there is competitive balance in terms of championship caliber teams?

rjakobi

2011-12-09 09:10:14 AM

MarkKetch: Yanks_RSJ: MarkKetch: It's pretty obvious that 80% of the league owners don't want the NBA to turn completely into a 5-team league with a bunch of super teams.

If they really want to solve that problem and create better competitive balance, they'd admit that 30 teams are too many.

They players would never vote to contract teams. Fewer teams = fewer jobs.

During this latest CBA the owners pretty much took the $ instead of working in new restraints that would have helped "balance" things out. If they didn't toss in the towel on that issue there would be no NBA season right now. They settled on the money, so that's their fault.

Isaiah Thomas ruined the CBA.

MarkKetch

2011-12-09 09:14:05 AM

airish: MarkKetch: How many different teams have won the NBA title in the last decade?

6 (Mavs, Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Heat, Pistons)
As compared to 4 from 92-01, 5 from 82-91, 7 from 72-81, 4 from 62-71, and 5 from 52-61. So I'm not really sure what your point is. That there is competitive balance in terms of championship caliber teams?

What? No, my point is that a small fraction of the total teams represent the pool of NBA championship winners.

MarkKetch

2011-12-09 09:16:30 AM

Yanks_RSJ: No, see, that's FORCED balance. The economic reality of the NBA is that 30 teams are too many to support without creating artificial restrictions on spending and player movement. I can see why you'd prefer that, since the "suck bad enough to draft a superstar player" was the philosophy behind your team's recent success. Now, if only there were restrictions in place that essentially forced that star player to stay, that would have solved everything...

I never said I preferred that, but hey, thanks for assuming such. I don't think Stern should have vetoed the trade but the owners have every right in this case to protest.

jayhawk88

2011-12-09 09:16:31 AM

Can you imagine what games in NO are going to be like if Paul does end up playing out the year there? Why would anyone in that city bother to go out and see that team play?

You kind of half to wonder if maybe the NBA doesn't really want the Hornets in KC or something.

neaorin

2011-12-09 09:16:54 AM

Rimjob: This was ridiculous, and one of the dumbest things David Stern has ever done.

This was NOT a lopsided trade that required Commissar Stern to step in to veto. Hell, there are many Lakers fans that are happy this trade didn't go through.

-The Lakers were going to ship out an all-star forward (Pau Gasol) and the NBA's sixth-man of the year the past season that could be a starter on most teams (Lamar Odom), leaving them with NOTHING at the power forward position.
- The Hornets were getting four good players (Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic) and a first-round draft pick.
- Chris Paul has already told the Hornets he's not re-signing with them and doesn't want to be in New Orleans.

So how are the Hornets better for being stuck with a Chris Paul that a) doesn't want to be there, and b) will leave next year & leave the Hornets with nothing in return?

The Hornets would essentially become the new Rockets - .500 team going nowhere with zero hope of getting high draft picks. They add a ton of salary for players who are on the wrong side of 31 (Odom, Scola) and therefore have no place in their future, Kevin Martin who is making second banana money to be a third banana, and the only youngish player they get - Goran Dragic - is a FA after this season. There's a reason Houston is willing to part with those players + a first rounder for 31 year old Pau Gasol.

Basically a rebuilding team needs as many draft picks as possible, young players, and to shed salary. This deal would instead net them a host of good, old, overpaid complementary players - to complement a core which they don't have. It is the antithesis of what a deal involving Chris Paul should look like for the Hornets. Hell, LeBron became a FA and the Cavs still managed a sign and trade for a trade exception and some first rounders.

oMaJoJ

2011-12-09 09:21:41 AM

Yanks_RSJ: MarkKetch: During this latest CBA the owners pretty much took the $ instead of working in new restraints that would have helped "balance" things out. If they didn't toss in the towel on that issue there would be no NBA season right now. They settled on the money, so that's their fault.

No, see, that's FORCED balance. The economic reality of the NBA is that 30 teams are too many to support without creating artificial restrictions on spending and player movement. I can see why you'd prefer that, since the "suck bad enough to draft a superstar player" was the philosophy behind your team's recent success. Now, if only there were restrictions in place that essentially forced that star player to stay, that would have solved everything...

weboshawa.com

"Remember all the good times we had?"

IMO, another way of "creating balance" would be less games, either in the regular season or the postseason, giving lesser teams a better chance of knocking out a better team

tarkus1980

2011-12-09 09:21:48 AM

This is ridiculous, and I'm nowhere near a Lakers fan. If the Lakers can get the best player in a trade while saving tons of money, it means they're playing chess while everybody else is playing checkers. They shouldn't be punished for that.

From the N.O. standpoint, if the GM isn't allowed to make significant trades because the NBA owns the team, then why the hell don't they just contract them?

dripping with sarcasm

2011-12-09 09:22:03 AM

So now at the end of the season is Paul forced to sign with Cleveland?

/They pick this trade to stand up against? The NBA needs to go down to 24 teams and create a 16 team second division like the EPL does. bottom 4 gets relegated and top 4 teams can move up. Bottom 16 get to draft first. So most likely the 18 year old hot shots will play with a lesser club the first few years and can prepare by leading his team to the next level.

/Salaries should go down. More people can play. More exposure to the NBA by adding more franchises. Talent could be more diluted, but I think balance could be achieved. Maybe fear of demotion will make franchises more competitive?

bulldg4life

2011-12-09 09:23:24 AM

oMaJoJ: IMO, another way of "creating balance" would be less games, either in the regular season or the postseason, giving lesser teams a better chance of knocking out a better team

Hey, maybe the destruction of this trade was the yang to the NBA increasing the first round to 7 games ying designed to help the Lakers from several years ago.

bhcompy

2011-12-09 09:24:32 AM

Gunny Highway: Who would have been the Lakers PF this year? WHo was coming off the bench for the Lakers this year?

Derrick Caracter would have started with Luke Walton coming off the bench. I've got a feeling that the Lakers would probably have pursued a trade for Chris Kaman, possibly just for cash considerations, if the trade had gone through. Kaman is an all star center, athletic enough to do what Gasol did as a PF(without the 3pt range), a capable fill in for the inevitable Bynum injury(if not better), and currently left out of the Clipper's plans because of DeAndre Jordan's development

bulldg4life

2011-12-09 09:24:41 AM

I'd like to see Stern allow the Hornets to trade Paul to the Celtics or Knicks just to see Jerry Buss' head explode.

davidt

2011-12-09 09:33:39 AM

F you David Stern and NBA Owners...

I'd still rather have D Rose, D Will or a few other PGs than Chris Paul on the Lakers. His size and those knees worry me a bit. But it would have been fun watching Paul in a Laker uniform this year. Maybe Blake Griffin nixed the trade.

Where is Jack Nicholson when you need him. Can't he get some Hollywood starlets to do some double action with Stern and get some compromising pictures? Let's regain the balance of power.

bhcompy

2011-12-09 09:36:45 AM

bulldg4life: I'd like to see Stern allow the Hornets to trade Paul to the Celtics or Knicks just to see Jerry Buss' head explode.

They're talkin about the Nets now, which would be awful.

oMaJoJ

2011-12-09 09:38:06 AM

bulldg4life: oMaJoJ: IMO, another way of "creating balance" would be less games, either in the regular season or the postseason, giving lesser teams a better chance of knocking out a better team

Hey, maybe the destruction of this trade was the yang to the NBA increasing the first round to 7 games ying designed to help the Lakers from several years ago.

No, this was Stern trying to assert power and creating a huge mess in the process.

bhcompy: Derrick Caracter would have started with Luke Walton coming off the bench.

Are you being sarcastic? I thought he was going to retire due to the injuries, either way that's not going to fly

Fundamental Thereom Of Farkulus

2011-12-09 09:39:03 AM

Lost Thought 00: Reading the letter more closely, it really does read like a former slave owner dejected by the fact that he can't order around black people at will anymore.

heh. i was thinking that this morning while watching mike and mike. can't wait to hear what stephen a. has to say about it. greg gumbel will weigh in also.

neaorin

2011-12-09 09:40:20 AM

neaorin:

The Hornets would essentially become the new Rockets - .500 team going nowhere with zero hope of getting high draft picks. They add a ton of salary for players who are on the wrong side of 31 (Odom, Scola) and therefore have no place in their future, Kevin Martin who is making second banana money to be a third banana, and the only youngish player they get - Goran Dragic - is a FA after this season. There's a reason Houston is willing to part with those players + a first rounder for 31 year old Pau Gasol.

Basically a rebuilding team needs as many draft picks as possible, young players, and to shed salary. This deal would instead net them a host of good, old, overpaid complementary players - to complement a core which they don't have. It is the antithesis of what a deal involving Chris Paul should look like for the Hornets. Hell, LeBron became a FA and the Cavs still managed a sign and trade for a trade exception and some first rounders.

I know it's bad form to quote yourself, but now they are saying the Nets would be willing to offer Orlando a package involving Brook Lopez, two first rounders, and taking on Turkoglu's massive salary back in exchange for Dwight Howard. THAT is the type of deal the Hornets should be aiming for.

skrame

2011-12-09 09:43:57 AM

jayhawk88: You kind of half to wonder

Half to wonder? would that make a small wonder?

cache.gawker.com

DamnYankees

2011-12-09 09:44:22 AM

Rimjob: This was NOT a lopsided trade that required Commissar Stern to step in to veto. Hell, there are many Lakers fans that are happy this trade didn't go through.

I wouldn't say I'm HAPPY it didn't go through, but I'm definitely ambivalent about the trade itself. I love Pau and Lamar, and they are excellent. The idea this was a ripoff is insane.

bahamasorbust

2011-12-09 09:49:47 AM

bhcompy: Gunny Highway: Who would have been the Lakers PF this year? WHo was coming off the bench for the Lakers this year?

Derrick Caracter would have started with Luke Walton coming off the bench. I've got a feeling that the Lakers would probably have pursued a trade for Chris Kaman, possibly just for cash considerations, if the trade had gone through. Kaman is an all star center, athletic enough to do what Gasol did as a PF(without the 3pt range) a capable fill in for the inevitable Bynum injury(if not better), and currently left out of the Clipper's plans because of DeAndre Jordan's development

Maybe it is just because I haven't slept yet, but are you saying that Pau Gasol has 3 point range? That ostrich looking mofo had 1 three pointer last season.

bhcompy

2011-12-09 09:51:06 AM

oMaJoJ: Are you being sarcastic? I thought he was going to retire due to the injuries, either way that's not going to fly

He should retire for being shiatty. I don't know what kind of injuries Walton has, just that he's still under contract and probably the most overpaid player in the NBA considering his contributions. I wasn't making a statement as to who is good, just that he's there and he's a PF and the Lakers have nothing else. I doubt he's going to turn down the nearly $12m they owe him, but the Lakers could use their amnesty on him as he is clearly their worst contract, but they could bet that he'd retire like the Knicks did with Allan Houston and save money.

bhcompy

2011-12-09 09:53:39 AM

bahamasorbust: Maybe it is just because I haven't slept yet, but are you saying that Pau Gasol has 3 point range? That ostrich looking mofo had 1 three pointer last season.

Maybe not Dirk range, but he does have good range for a center and you couldn't leave him wide open 10-15'+ like one would do with someone like Shaq.

jimpoz

2011-12-09 10:04:27 AM

MAYORBOB

2011-12-09 10:12:26 AM

Oh noes! A deal approved by David Stern which will destroy the integrity of professional basketball! Please get to the point where I begin caring about the NBA, much less imaginary notions such as integrity.

Jsin82

2011-12-09 10:33:44 AM

MAYORBOB: Oh noes! A deal approved by David Stern which will destroy the integrity of professional basketball! Please get to the point where I begin caring about the NBA, much less imaginary notions such as integrity.

Yet you feel compelled to post in a thread about a topic you don't care about. So you're either a) a liar b) have no life or c) a fan of a team that sucks. Now go away so grown-ups can talk.

downtownkid

2011-12-09 10:37:39 AM

jayhawk88:

Maybe if you'd had the foresight to flip LeBron when you could have for something even half as good as what the Hornets would have got in this deal, you wouldn't be looking at another 20 win season Danny Boy.

Thank you for the laughs. That is the perhaps the stupidest thing ever posted on Fark.

At the time Lebron was the hometown hero and the purported savior of the franchise. Although he was playing coy he was on the record stating that he would not leave Cleveland without bringing home a championship. If any of the 29 other owners were in Gilbert's position during the run-up to "The Decision" they would have done exactly what he did. Only a complete idiot would suggest otherwise.

ole prophet

2011-12-09 10:51:14 AM

Was Gilbert writing letters when he had James?

spiderpaz

2011-12-09 10:53:50 AM

This takes Laker hating to a whole new level. Where was the outrage when Miami assembled its big 3?

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