Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

The three teams involved in the Chris Paul trade blocked Thursday by NBA commissioner David Stern are appealing to the league for Stern to reverse the decision, according to sources close to the process.

There is no indication yet that Stern is prepared to reverse course after taking the dramatic step of blocking the league-owned New Orleans Hornets’ decision to deal Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But the primary argument being presented to the league office for allowing the deal to go through as agreed to in principle by the Hornets, Lakers andHouston Rockets is that the NBA’s decision would appear to force the Hornets to keep Paul for the rest of the season, despite the fact that he can opt out of his contract and become a free agent July 1 and leave New Orleans without compensation.

A trade of Paul elsewhere, according to the teams’ argument, would mean that Stern and the league are choosing where Paul would play.

WRITTEN BY Marc Stein is senior NBA writer for ESPN.com & FULL STORY HERE

Follow Marc Stein on Twitter: @ESPNSteinLine