NEW ORLEANS — Diretso na si Chris Paul sa Los Angeles — ngunit hindi sa Lakers kundi sa Clippers.
Dinala ng Hornets si Paul sa Clippers kapalit nina guard Eric Gordon, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, center Chris Kaman at isang first-round draft choice sa 2012.
Ang deal ay inaprubahan ni NBA Commissioner David Stern dahil ang Hornets ay pagmamay-ari ng liga.
“I knew we were doing the best thing for New Orleans and that was my job,” wika ni Stern. “You have to stick with what you think was right. I must confess it wasn’t a lot of fun, but I don’t get paid to have fun.”
Sinabi pa ni Stern hindi niya tinanggap ang mga opinyon at konsiderasyon ng ibang team owners tungkol sa kung saan dapat mapunta si Paul,.
Nauna nang ibinasura ng NBA ang trade proposal ng Clippers at Lakers para makuha si Paul.
Sinabi ni Blake Griffin na gusto niyang makasama si Paul sa Clippers.
“Our sole focus was and will remain, until we sell this team, hopefully which will be in the first half of 2012, how best to maintain the Hornets, make them as attractive and as competitive as we can and ensure we have a buyer who can keep them in New Orleans,” ani Stern.
Ayon kay Stern, kasalukuyan na silang nakikipag-usap sa hanay ng mga potential ownership groups.
Kailangang tanggapin ng mananalong grupo ang bagong long-term lease sa nasabing state-owned New Orleans Arena para tuluyang mabili ang koponan
“The future of the Hornets in New Orleans is brighter than it’s ever been,” sabi ni Stern.