Not for sure as I would have been one. The previous CBA's have resulted in some really bad finals and it would have been nice to see the top players like KG compete in one at the prime of his career instead of at its twilight. The only way I could see Gilbert's complaint is if he would have stressed that he did not think it was effective use of cap space. He would not be crying if Bosh had decided to sign in Cleveland. We will see if NO gets a better package with its cap space and a return in S&T during the offseason. Seeing how Cleveland and Toronto got basically nothing, my guess is that this deal was fair.
If they kept Paul, he would be 17.7M this year and 30% of the cap if an extension is signed (which will not happen). The Hornets would also have to pay for the other players that they would not have to in the 4 for 1 trade that got cancelled. Odom plays multiple positions, is only due 8.9m this year and has only 2M guaranteed for next year. Scola makes 30M guaranteed over the next three with an NG fourth year. Plenty of teams would give compensation to take his contract. Martin is overpaid, but only for two years. 24M for two years is not bad. Dragic is a bargain at 2M. One solution I see is that the league makes the Lakers take as much salary as they are sending out back. 4M of that could be made up by the Lakers taking Turiaf and the Hornets getting 3M from the Knicks. They could also make them take players like Charlie Bell with other compensation going to NO.
