Just when you thought the NBA had come to its senses....

The NBA, as you know, is back with a CBA, no less, that will make it possible for smaller market franchises like the Timberwolves to contend.

But not content with doing one good deed for the smaller markets, commissioner David Stern had to go and screw it all up yesterday. I mean, by voiding a 3-legged trade that sent one of the best young point guards in the league, Chris Paul, from New Orleans to the L.A. Lakers.

Now, on paper I get it. Can't let the mega-filthy-rich Lakers get any richer, right? But, wait. It's supposed to be about the smaller markets. Has anybody really thought about this trade from the Hornets' perspective? Yeah, I have. Here's the proposed trade.

Houston--gives Goran Dragich, Kevin Martin, Louis Scola and a 1st round draft pick
          gets Paul Gasol

Los Angeles Lakers--give Paul Gasol and Lamar Odom
          gets Chris Paul

New Orleans--gives Chris Paul
          gets Goran Dragich, Kevin Martin, Louis Scola and a 1st round draft pick

Expectations are that Paul will resist signing a contract extension with the Hornets, and if so either they trade him or he walks as a free agent. And if not this trade, then what more are the Hornets going to get in another?

Here's New Orleans projected lineup status quo:

C- Emeka Okafor 7 ppg (playoffs)
F- Carl Landry 16
     Trevor Ariza 15.5
G- Chris Paul 22
     Marco Belinelli 10

Now, without Paul:

C- Okafor
F- Scola 18
    Ariza
G- K. Martin 23.5
     Bellinelli

And an extra 1st round pick in 2013 which, given Houston's roster after the unexpected retirement of Yao Ming, could be a pretty good one.

Or, alternatively, if Paul walks:

C- Okafor
F- Landry
     Ariza
G- Belinelli
     Jarrett Jack 6

And no extra 1st round draft pick in 2013.

No, this was not done to help the New Orleans Hornets, nor even to harm the Los Angeles Lakers. It was done to help the Dallas Mavericks and squeaky wheel-owner Mark Cuban, who was reported as protesting loudly to the NBA office about the trade. The proposed trade, after all, might make it harder for Cuban's Mavs to defend their Western Division and NBA titles against the Lakers. Or might not. After all, the Lakers are giving up Gasol and Odom. And while Paul would replace Derek Fisher in the Lakers' starting lineup, Matt Barnes and Shannon Brown would replace Gasol and Odom. Who?

And last time I looked, Dallas was not a small market but rather #4 in America after New York, LA and Chicago. And their owner, Cuban, one of the wealthiest men in America. He and his Mavericks do not need for NBA officials to come to a rescue, but that exactly what they've done.

And there's absolutely nothing that says Paul doesn't end up in L.A., anyway, only he might end up with Gasol and Odom on his side.