The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Dec. 14, 2011

For as bad of a black eye the NBA received for having a long lockout - they had a chance to answer the 10-count.

After two weeks of goodwill and smiles, the bitterness appeared again thanks to a three-team trade involving one of the league's best players.

ONCE THE deal was announced that Chris Paul was going to leave the New Orleans Hornets for the Los Angeles Lakers, with the Lakers sending Pau Gasol to Houston and Lamar Odom to New Orleans, it sounded like a good move for everyone involved.

That is - almost everyone.

When New Orleans was without an owner, the NBA took over operations of the team, making league commissioner David Stern somewhat of the boss.

After receiving an email from another owner, Stern opted to veto the trade because of basketball reasons, citing that the Lakers were receiving the best part of the deal.

Los Angeles moving two starters within its own conference, for a point guard that has been injury prone - doesn't sound as though they're benefiting at all.

In fact, the Lakers could be getting closer to having to completely rebuild a roster that was embarrassed following an early playoff exit last season.

THINGS GOT a little bit worse on Monday when another projected trade between the Hornets and the Los Angles Clippers fell through because the Clippers didn't like what they'd have to give up to get Paul.

A chance to have Blake Griffin and Paul on the same team, and they don't want to make that trade.

Incredible.

The Clippers haven't been a legitimate contender for a championship in a long time, and although they share a home arena with the Lakers - that's about the only thing that they've got in common.

One reason the lockout went on for months was because owners wanted to get better competition between the teams.

With a chance to do so, it didn’t happen — twice.

Last week’s deal, while it could have make the Lakers better, was the best option for all those teams involved.

AS I try to wrap my head around all the things wrong with this, it’s nothing new.

I’ve seen this scenario a couple times in high school sports when a player tries to transfer schools after playing for another team.

Most view this as wanting to play for a better team — which is not always the reason.

In some cases they just want a better future, both athletically and academically.

All Paul is looking for is to have a chance to compete at a high level in the postseason.

That is, if someone doesn’t knock him out before he steps into the ring.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].