Just when the Lakers had a trade in place to score one of the NBA's premiere point guards in Chris Paul, Commissioner David Stern rejected the deal that would have shipped Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom out of town.
Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak reportedly was told by Stern that the deal was not going to happen but he was given no explanation.
Sources said NBA owners were protesting the trade that would have sent Gasol and Odom to the New Orleans Hornets. Gasol then would be dealt to the Houston Rockets and they would send New Orleans a couple of other players.
One NBA owner said that if the league continues to let this kind of thing happen, there will be just five teams that can compete.
The league and the commissioner had veto power in this case since the Hornets are owned by the NBA.
ESPN reported Thursday night that Paul is seeking a lawsuit against the NBA for blocking the trade.
Paul simply posted, "WOW," on his Twitter page. Odom tweeted, "When a team trades u and it doesn't go down? Now what?"
Odom was much more somber in an ESPN radio interview.
"You're always going to be stunned and shocked. Even when you fall flat on your face, but you're able to pick yourself up. Sometimes you still bleed, sometimes you still cry," said Odom.
Training camps open Friday and Paul said he won't report to the Hornets camp and Odom said he might not report to the Lakers camp.
Many Lakers fans said while they support Odom and Gasol, they were disappointed the deal didn't go through.
"I think that's crazy. I think they've overstepped their bounds," Lakers fan Lamar Fooks said.
The possibility of yet another potential Lakers legend coming to Staples Center in many ways distracted from the Angels', perhaps, biggest signing in franchise history.
The Angels agreed to a deal with the top free agent on the market, Albert Pujols, paying him $254 million over 10 years. The team also signed pitcher C.J. Wilson to a 5-year, $75 million deal.
One fan said he couldn't be happier with Angels owner Arte Moreno.
"Unbelievable, it was the best trade. I've been waiting for Arte to do a move like this for some time," said Angels fan William Johnson.
