So apparently I misunderstood, and Stern wasn't the one that said the Hornets were "asking too much" with this Clippers deal. The Clippers owners said that.
Apparently they caved and it worked out.
Should turn out ok for us, over time. We shall see.
Actually I think the Hornets are better off than they were with the Laker's trade.
Rejected Laker's/Rocket's trade the Hornets would get (salaries are this years contract):
Lamar Odom (L) - 32 years old, not going to really be effective for much longer ($8.9m)
Luis Scola (R)- 31 years old, 18 and 8 last year, plays same position as Odom ($8.6m)
Kevin Martin (R)- 28 years old, 24 and 3 last year, probably best long term player in this deal ($11.5m)
Goran Dragic (R) - throw in ($2.1m)
Rocket's first round pick, which with the addition of Gasol to the Rockets in this trade might have not been a very high pick. Total of $31.1 million in salary this year.
Clippers trade:
Eric Gordon - 22 years old; 22 and 5 last season ($3.8m)
Chris Kaman - 29 years old; One of the few true centers in the league; Allows Okafur to move to power forward ($12.2m)
Al-Farouq Aminu - Throw in ($2.8m)
Minnesota Timberwolves unprotected 2012 first pick (likely to be very high; most likely top 4) Total of $18.8 million in salary this year.
The Clipper's trade was better for the long haul. It get's them really just as much talent for less salary and a better draft pick. All of this will be better to attract an owner to buy the team from the league and will give them room to sign some free agents this off season.
And I know I'm probably alone on here, but I prefer the NBA to NCAA basketball. The play is just better and more exciting (and don't give me any crap about fundamentals. If I wanted to watch somebody who was good at fundamentals I would watch the WNBA).