David Stern Still Doesn't Regret Blocking Chris Paul Trade, Says There is a 'Wrong Impression'

David Stern claims he was acting in the league's best interest in blocking the 2011 trade.

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Complex Original

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NBA watchers are still scratching their heads (and Lakers fans are still bitter) about the almost-three-team-trade of 2011 that nearly sent Chris Paul to the Lakers. It’s been five years since then-NBA commissioner David Stern blocked the deal.

In an interview with Sports Business Radio, Stern addressed the criticism he has received since taking that polarizing action. Thanks to Sports Illustrated’s Ben Golliver for sharing.

5 years after Chris Paul trade fiasco, David Stern blames 'ticked off' Lakers & Rockets for 'wrong impression' https://t.co/Ljfa2NKYwe pic.twitter.com/JHruF5dQJz

This is an ultimate #WellActually from Stern, but his point doesn’t seem to hold much validity; he’s just putting a different spin on the narrative. The truth is, the Lakers, Rockets, and then-New Orleans Hornets tried to engage in a massive trade that would have shaken up the league, and Stern didn't allow it.

Chris Paul would have joined Los Angeles; Paul Gasol would have gone to the Rockets; and the Hornets, sans-superstar, would have received an array of weapons: Lamar Odom, Goran Dragic, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, and a 2012 first-round draft pick. Stern was the acting owner representative of New Orleans because the previous owner had sold the team back to the NBA, and he made the call that the trade would not have proven beneficial for the Hornets.

Sterm blames Lakers and Rockets executives for putting a negative spin on his actions, and claims he was acting in the best interest of the league and its owners.

Did he overstep his bounds? Yeah, probably. Was he right to thwart the trade? Probably not. New Orleans would have been better off without his intervention.

The Hornets ended up trading Paul to the other Los Angeles NBA team, receiving in return Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, and a 2012 first-round draft pick (Austin Rivers).

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