In the world of NBA basketball, December 9th 2011 was a day like no other that I’ve ever experienced. The whole week has been crazy, but Friday being the first day that moves could be made official… that took it to another level. I can’t ever recall so much player movement taking place in a 24-hour period, and I’m pretty sure we’ve witnessed the first ever vetoed trade due to something other than a failed physical. Also in the mix are 27-year-old Brandon Roy’s medical retirement, a slew of former All-Stars being waived, a Larry Hughes comeback (had to throw that in there!), and yet another Greg Oden setback.
I was away from my computer for less than 4 of Friday the 9th’s 24 hours. Even so, I’ve had a hard time keeping up with the constant stream of reports. For those of you who actually have a life? It must have been impossible.
Anyway, where there is news there are people talking about it. Here are some of the best quotes from a day that gave NBA players, coaches, and executives plenty to yap about…
Lamar Odom on the CP3 ordeal: “When a team trades you and it doesn’t go down? Now what?”
Kobe Bryant on Gasol & Lamar’s hurt feelings: “They’ll get over it.”
Mark Jackson on whether or not Andris Biedrins will start: “He is definitely a center on this basketball team.”
Andris Biedrins on himself: “The last two years were horrible for me. I know that. Everybody knows that. So now’s the time to prove it back.”
George Karl on Andre Miller: “He’s the smartest player in the league.”
Larry Drew on the care that must be taken with T-Back: “[The key is to] put [Knee-Mac] in a situation where you are not going to wear him down.”
Nate McMillan on the state of the Blazers: “I hope one day I can come into a training camp and not say someone is out for the season.”
Kevin McHale on the CP3 nonsense: “When the league kicks you square in the testes you can do one of two things; you can curl up in a ball, or you can get up and fight.”
Jamaal Magloire on the Craptors: “Be very excited. We have a young team that’s willing to do whatever it takes to win, and we’re going to win on defense.”
Brace yourself for this next one. Make sure there’s no liquid in your mouth, or else young Jan Vesely may put you in the market for a new keyboard…
Wizards Rookie Jan Vesely on Coach Flip Saunders: “I don’t know how much he trusts rookies, but I heard that he likes white players, so we’ll see.”
Plus one bonus from Thursday night…
NBA executive who was in talks with New Orleans on the CP3 ordeal: “We were all told by the league he was a tradeable player, and now they’re saying that Dell doesn’t have the authority to make the trade? Now they’re saying that Dell is an idiot, that he can’t do his job. [Expletive] this whole thing. David’s drunk on power, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the players, and he doesn’t give a [expletive] about the hundreds of hours the teams put in to make that deal.”
“How do the Lakers explain this to Odom? How does Houston deal with the guys it just tried to trade? Scola and Martin are going to be pissed at them, and who knows how long that takes to get over? Explain to me how the league kills this Pau Gasol deal, but allows Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol?
“To me, this makes the league feel like it’s rigged, that Stern just does whatever Stern wants to do. He’s messed up the competitive balance of this league a lot worse by killing the deal because you’ve completely destroyed the planning that New Orleans and Houston did and left them in shambles over this. I’ve never been so discouraged about this league, never so down.”
“I mean, come on: Chris Paul is leaving New Orleans in 66 games. He’s gone. And what’s Dell Demps, and that franchise, going to have to show for it?”
Yep, that one was a doozy! Oh sh!t, I almost forgot! This one’s from Thursday as well…
David Stern on why the Chris Paul deal was nixed: “For basketball reseasons.”
I believe #forbasketballreasons was actually trending on Twitter for a while. These epic words from Commissioner Stern may forever define this wild weekend.
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