Rob Long: I Hate It, But It Was A Good Move
By now, those of you who listen to me on the "Bob and Rob Show" are aware that I am a Los Angeles Lakers' fan. I became a Lakers' fan during the 1983 NBA Finals when they lost in four games to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Even though the Lakers were completely outmatched, I became a huge Magic Johnson fan and ultimately a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. It's been that way since the Finals of 1983.
This year, I was hoping the Lakers would get both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard in trades and all they got was an $8.9 million trade exception and a protected first-round draft pick. Not a good week for the most popular professional basketball team in the City of Angels.
First the Los Angeles Angels take a big bite out of the strangle hold that the Dodgers have in the baseball community and now the Los Angeles Clippers take a huge step forward as well with their latest move.
Paul, who was headed to Los Angeles a week ago, was informed that the move to the Lakers was blocked by David Stern while at the airport. Now he is headed to L.A. but not for the Lakers but for the Clippers.
As much as I hated the trade being blocked for the Lakers, I think the NBA is better served with the Clippers becoming relevant. Now, the Clippers not only have a media darling and reigning Rookie of The Year Blake Griffin, but now one of the best point guards in Paul. Add veterans Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler to the mix and the Clippers could possibly contend in the West. Yes, I said that. The Clippers are now a good team, all of a sudden. Now that they've added a couple of players, they will make all NBA fans look online to see when the Clippers are playing on television.
The biggest question for NBA fans now is: Which game is the bigger L.A. basketball game, Lakers versus Chicago Bulls or Clippers versus the Golden State Warriors?
Rob Long
