The New Orleans Pelicans expressed disappointment after reading about former commissioner David Stern taking a shot at general manager Dell Demps while discussing the vetoed trade in 2011 that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. The team issued a statement to stand behind their longtime GM, finally taking one last jab back at Stern with their last sentence.
“We are very disappointed to read the inappropriate and inaccurate comments from the former NBA Commissioner regarding the New Orleans Pelicans. Our organization has the utmost confidence in our General Manager, Dell Demps. He is part of our family, the NBA family. We are excited about the direction of our team, the 3-0 start of this season, building on the success of the 2017/18 playoffs.
“Finally, our organization is excited and proud to be part of the NBA with the progressive and innovative leadership of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.”
Stern had called Demps a “lousy” GM and noted that could be the reason the team loses Anthony Davis during free agency, after recounting how the team failed to keep the return pieces he mustered from Paul's trade to the LA Clippers.
The former commissioner emphasized that he didn't overrule the initial trade to the Lakers, but instead did not approve of it, knowing he could get more of a return for a franchise player like Paul.
Stern was the acting owner of the then-New Orleans Hornets, which set up massive questions about a potential conflict of interest, something then-Lakers coach Phil Jackson had brought up at the time.
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