Former NBA Commissioner David Stern made news around the Association on Wednesday by pretty much calling out the entire New Orleans Pelicans’ organization and general manager Dell Demps.
In talking with Chris Ballard of Sports Illustrated, Stern looked back at his tenure as commish. This conversation involved his now-infamous rejection of a trade that would have sent then-New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. He didn’t hold back in talking about the team now known as the Pelicans.
“(Demps) had agreed to [trade Paul to the Lakers for] Kevin Martin and Luis Scola or something, and I said we can do better than that,” Stern said. “And the next trade was (to the Clippers for) Eric Gordon and Al-Farouq Aminu and what we thought was a really great draft pick, the 10th pick, which turned out to be Austin Rivers. At least those three and someone else (center Chris Kaman). But Dell Demps is a lousy general manager and none of those players are currently with the team anymore, and he may lose Anthony Davis.”
Well, that’s no subtle shot at a GM in Demps who has received his fair share of criticism in recent seasons. The focus on Anthony Davis is especially interesting given that there’s been rumors that he might look to get out of dodge if the team doesn’t improve.
For their part, the Pelicans decided to clap right back at Stern, tossing a ton of shade in his direction in the process. It also wasn’t subtle.
https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1055243751478755329
Specifically focusing on the progressive nature of the NBA under new Commissioner Adam Silver needs to be seen as a pot shot in Stern’s direction.
We’re not too sure that Stern gained by making these comments. Maybe it was his way of defending himself after the former head honcho received major push back for blocking the Paul to Lakers trade. It had wide-ranging ramifications around the NBA and still does.
Either way, it’s clear the Pelicans’ organization stands by Demps.