http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/12/rejected-trade-shows-nba-hasnt-solved-any-its-problems/45968/

Money Quote:

The trade may have proved to the small-market owners that nothing has changed, but Stern's move to appease them may have made the situation even worse. The trade was a good deal for New Orleans, who acquired several players and a draft pick for a superstar that would be leaving as a free agent at the end of the year anyway. It embarrassed Demps and undermined his ability to make future deals. It angers the players involved, who now have to return to locker rooms where they obviously aren't wanted. It won't sit well with the rest of league's players who already feel they were mistreated by owners during the lockout and now have even less reason to trust Stern.