EOHB / Bradley Handwerger
L.A. Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson has won enough championships and is secure enough is job to pretty much speak as he pleases.
So it’s not surprising that he was uninhibited when asked about the NBA owning the Hornets.
To say he’s not a fan probably doesn’t go far enough.
“Not happy about that,” Jackson said to the gaggle of reporters assembled in the bowels of the New Orleans Arena. “Who’s going to trade who to whom? Who’s going to pull the button on it? Trading players and when Chris (Paul) says he has to be traded, how’s that going to go?”
That’s a valid argument. Especially after this summer’s near “Get Chris Paul Out of New Orleans” sweepstakes put on by CP3 himself.
The question is, whose interest is the NBA looking out for. Jackson would like to know.
“Someone’s going to have to make a very nonjudgmental decision on that part that’s not going to irritate anyone else in the league,” Jackson said.
It all comes down, apparently, to Jackson’s belief that basketball isn’t preferred down here in the Deep South, especially New Orleans.
“I don’t know if New Orleans can support a team,” he said. “It hasn’t been successful in supporting a team until now. So all the situations that have gone on with New Orleans, unfortunately things have happened and if the franchise can’t make it, someone is going to have to move them.”
