WOW just WOW. I personally think David Stern overreacted to Jim Rome’s question about the controversy behind the recent NBA Draft lottery. But I do understand how Stern would feel being asked that kind of a question, as the NBA’s commissioner, about fixing the Draft Lottery so that the Hornets would be awarded with the 1st overall pick. But overall, WOW.
Just a few minutes after the New Orleans Hornets were awarded the 1st overall pick (possibly Anthony Davis) for the 2012 NBA Draft one big rumor began to surface: Did David Stern make the Hornets franchise win the 1st overall pick as a form of an apology? Well, let’s take a look back as to why people would think David Stern would do that.
In December of 2010, the NBA, headed by Commissioner David Stern, bought the New Orleans for an estimated amount of $300 million. Shortly after the 2010-2011 season, analysts, writers, and NBA fans, were waiting on the Hornets’ decision regarding the future of their All-Star point guard, Chris Paul. Just after the NBA lockout was finally settled and every NBA fan rejoiced, all eyes were now on NBA movements as teams were now allowed to negotiate deals. It was during the eve the NBA formally re-opened to the public that David Stern made a bold move. The New Orleans Hornets had already agreed on a trade that would send Chris Paul to the Lakers. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. David Stern stepped in and halted the deal and eventually rejected it, as a result, NBA fans were stunned. Chris Paul as well was stunned as he tweeted, “Wow”. It was certainly one of the most uncommon events to ever happen in NBA history.
A couple of days later, the Hornets would finally be allowed to complete a trade for Chris Paul to Los Angeles. However, Paul was going to the Clippers this time instead of the Lakers. Was Stern possibly trying to prevent Chris Paul, one of the most popular NBA player today, from joining forces with the 5-time champion and future Hall of Famer in Kobe Bryant and follow the footsteps of other NBA players (e.g: Miami’s Big 3 in 2010)? Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll never know for sure. However, the bigger question now is, “Did David Stern try to give back to the Hornet’s after rejecting the trade between the Hornets and the Lakers for Chris Paul?” Moreover, another big question arises, “Since David Stern formerly owned the Hornets, did he try to give back to the franchise by giving them the 1st overall pick, just a month after selling the team to Tom Benson?” If you asked Stern that question on a live broadcast, I wouldn’t be shocked as to how he will react.
The Hornets had a 13.7% chance of winning the 1st overall pick and most people expected that Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats, who finished with the worst record, percentage wise, in NBA history, would win the draft. So am I a believer that David Stern played a role in making sure that the Hornets, who are currently the worst team in the Western Conference after this past regular season, would win the 1st overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft? My answer … NO. David Stern did NOT do anything. Honestly, those are rumors are just wrong, but I fully understand why those rumors would even come up. My statement to those who believe that Stern had something do with the draft: “It is just a COINCIDENCE! Simple as that.”
Here’s the Youtube link: Jim Rome vs David Stern
Credits to JackMooreBuzz for uploading on Youtube
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