Dan Gilbert Has it All Wrong…Again

Who can forget when Gilbert wrongly eviscerated LeBron in a childish, Comic Sans-typed letter last summer? I’m not mad a Gilbert for being upset that LeBron left, but he took it way too far, making it seem as if it was LeBron’s duty to play in Cleveland his entire career. At first, I thought Gilbert was just upset with “how” LeBron decided to leave Cleveland, but as more and more time elapsed it became evident to me that Gilbert would’ve reacted the same way no matter which method of departure LeBron chose. Naturally, and for good reason, Cavalier faithful rallied behind Gilbert’s letter.

At certain points during the lockout, it was rumored that continuous push-back from certain small market owners is what contributed to the lockout lasting as long as it did. Those two owners were allegedly Dan Gilbert and Michael Jordan. Then, on Thursday of last week, ironically the same day that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was ratified, Chris Paul was traded to the Lakers. Los Angeles was surrendering Pau Gasol to Houston and Lamar Odom to New Orleans. Now, part of the complaints from small market owners is that there needs to be more parity. They’re tired of big stars going to big markets. So Dan Gilbert did what Dan Gilbert knows how to do: he typed a letter to Dan Stern to complain:

Commissioner,

It would be a travesty to allow the Lakers to acquire Chris Paul in the apparent trade being discussed.

This trade should go to a vote of the 29 owners of the Hornets.

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.

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. And it doesn’t appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard. (They would also get a large trade exception that would help them improve their team and/or eventually trade for Howard.) When the Lakers got Pau Gasol (at the time considered an extremely lopsided trade) they took on tens of millions in additional salary and luxury tax and they gave up a number of prospects (one in Marc Gasol who may become a max-salary player).

I just don’t see how we can allow this trade to happen.

I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do.

When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?

Please advise….

Dan G.

But, here’s where Gilbert has it wrong: his entire premise is based on the money that the Lakers will be saving. Why is that any of his concern and how does that violate anything? That sounds like a smart business decision to me, not anything that is working in favor of big markets. That could’ve easily been the Milwaukee Bucks making a deal to save money. I’m embarrassed for him for including that. Then, he also fails to realize that had that deal gone through, it would’ve made the Lakers a worse team. Chris Paul is arguably the best PG in the game, but personally I thought they were giving up too much for him. The Lakers were losing two all-star caliber players and were receiving one back. But Dan Gilbert isn’t sharp enough about the game of basketball to acknowledge that. So, as you know, his complaining is what forced David Stern the nix the trade, citing “basketball reasons.” Sure, on the surface, it sounds like another big name is going to another big team. But they were losing two in the process.

That night, Gilbert got destroyed on Twitter. I couldn’t sleep so I went through his Twitter mentions for a few minutes and had the time of my life. I even read several comments from people who described themselves a Cavs fans who said they didn’t agree with Gilbert’s letter. He wasn’t getting much support from anyone.

Now, word is that Chris Paul may be sent to the Clippers. Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t they located in a major market? They’re not the Lakers, but it’s still Los Angeles. Rumor has it that Dan Gilbert did not type his letter to David Stern in Comic Sans font. But I wonder which font he’ll use when he tries to block CP3 from going to the Clippers.