Chris Paul stays put.

[Static]

yosifun, the Hornets wouldn't want Rashard's contract, I'm pretty sure of it.

Realgm is reporting that the Hornets are supposedly only willing to trade Paul to teams that are also willing to accept Emeka Okafor's ridiculous salary. If that's the case, then the chance of them taking Rashard Lewis' contract (arguably one of the worst salary:true value ratios in the league) is near-zero.

[brett35]

If CP3 goes to Orlando clearly they will be the num. 2 team in the east behind Miami, but if he goes that means Jameer Nelson will have to go. He became an elite starter for that team, but who wouldnt want Chris Paul to start for them? New Orleans can get a lot of good players back from Orlando if they trade Paul to them.

Being from New Jersey I would love to see him to NY but New York has 0 good enough players to give back unless they give future draft picks and 3 players.

If he goes to Dallas who would start Kidd or Paul? Dallas seems to complicated for me.

Portland seems like a good place, he could fit in well there with Brandon Roy, and Portland has the players to give back.

[rise]

who wouldnt want Chris Paul to start for them

A team that has Steve Nash.

Chris Paul obviously costs way more and should cost Lakers some great pieces from their current core, unless they pull another Pau Gasol trade.

I would almost respect the Lakers if they somehow managed to trade like Luke Walton or someone crappy for Chris Paul.

This is a long shot, but it actually works out: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=283ndp8

That trade would be complete suicide.

I think you're underestimating the Mavs' depth. Kidd is not going to the Hornets in that trade, he'll probably do some off-the-ball hilarity as a drive-and-kick three-point shooter, who could deal with some SGs physically-wise and cover the rest of Paul's minutes at PG. They're certainly not great behind the starters, but no matter what, Jason Terry is still a useful scorer off the bench. If they keep JJ Barea, he'll do enough to not require Chris Paul or Jason Kidd to play all night (though nothing more). Dominique Jones has shown promise in Summer League, and he could be a serviceable combo guard backup (have to wait and see). SF would be pretty shallow in that deal, but if there's anyone still left, the Mavs can offer part of their full MLE still available to sign someone. James Posey could be coming back the other way though, so he'd spot Marion for time at SG/SF as a three-point shooter and perimeter defender. You're right, Chandler is probably going back to NO in that deal. But with Okafor, they'd be giving Dallas a ton of frontcourt depth to play alongside Dirk, and Ian Mahinmi, who I think would be reasonable in a limited role: Haywood/Okafor/Mahinmi would need to fill, what, 60 minutes? That's not a lot to ask for, to play Haywood for 30 at center, have Okafor take Dirk and Haywood's rest and have Mahinmi/Marion mop up. There's a help-defense rebounding/shot blocking front court which covers a lot of Dirk's matador defensive ways. And it's not like it's a battery of Jake Voskuhl, Primos Brezec and Jake Tsakalidis.

Those aren't prime awesome options, but they're not all that stricken. That's a deep team probably on par with Orlando.

That would be pretty interesting but I'd like to see Chandler staying in Dallas.

[brett35]

haha well a team with steve nash is obvious.

i hope this deal is done soon because im sure he wants it done and cp3 on a new team in nba live is huge with a new roster update hahaha

[yosifun]

I'm no expert in NBA rules and regulations so I will ask this, as far as I heard some of VC's contract is guaranteed, will it effect the chance of Orlando trading him in a deal in which NO would waive him later?

This way maybe VC could be traded and than re-sign in Orlando for the vet-minimum (I think after 30 days from the actual waive..)

[brett35]

VC is going to be very tough to trade his contract is worth almost 16 million.

[Lamrock]

And expiring...

[yosifun]

And expiring...

So can the scenario I suggested really happen, trading VC and re-signing him after NO waives him?

[Andrew]

Technically that would be possible even if he wasn't an expiring contract. Just much, much less likely to happen.

[benji]

Yes, it is possible, but it might not be what New Orleans would want to do. Paul has actual value, he's not a free agent until 2012 so they have no reason to trade him immediately, they can string things along and get more than an expiring for him. They can dump him to a team he doesn't want if it gets them something worthwhile, he only has leverage as far as the Hornets management wants to appear "player-friendly" something they and every team will put a lie to when they break the CBA and lock the players out because they're stupid and somehow can't realize that they jointly have a monopoly power on the market.

[yosifun]

I know CP3 has value, this is why I was thinking of a deal in which they could have VC's contract and some solid players along with it.

Something like: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=2cygfzz

or: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=23ayxao

They would get solid Nelson and Gortat, VC's expiring and they could unload on Okafor along the way.

[Valor]

Related report that i find quite interesting

James suggested that Hornets point guard Chris Paul request a trade.

However, Windhorst added that James is urging Paul to stay in the Western Conference

Read more: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... st_trade/#

So he wants Chris Paul out of New Orleans for some reason, and yet is scared that CP3 might team up with a strong team in the East (say Orlando) that could kick his ass before he gets to the finals?

[Andrew]

Woj is not a fan of the trade demand.

[Lamrock]

Yeah, I wish LeBron would mind his own business, and then eat shit and die.

Two weeks later: "Now on ESPN, Chris Paul will announce which team he's demanded a trade to!"

[NovU]

Wazn't he demanding a trade from way before? Anything Lebron and his management do, media seems to hate it.

[Oznogrd]

Wazn't he demanding a trade from way before? Anything Lebron and his management do, media seems to hate it.

Quit being a homer.

The media is crazy, constantly asking other players about shit that has nothing to do with them. If they wont answer they get pissed, if they're honest they make a huge deal about it. Dumbest shit ever. I wish i could say it was an NBA exclusive but they do it in every sport.


As far as I remember Paul was saying if the hornets werent going to contend he wanted a trade before he got hurt last year. They went from conference semis to irrelevant in no time flat...I'd say he's got plenty of reason to want out.

[NovU]

How was I being a homer, when yourself explained pretty well how he wasn't happy with the situation in NOH. The article in Andrew's post pretty much aims at Lebron and his "gang" for Paul wanting out. His claims of Paul must be like Tim Duncan alone is easily laughable. He even goes further claiming that King James is too influential over his career when Lebron was saying "Do what's best for yourself and family."

I get the vibe, all this criticism will continue to grow as the Heat remains the goalith. Of course, gets tired.

[Lamrock]

Best Paul trade I can come up with...

[Martti.]

Looks like he's staying put.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... r_hornets/

[Andrew]

How was I being a homer, when yourself explained pretty well how he wasn't happy with the situation in NOH. The article in Andrew's post pretty much aims at Lebron and his "gang" for Paul wanting out. His claims of Paul must be like Tim Duncan alone is easily laughable. He even goes further claiming that King James is too influential over his career when Lebron was saying "Do what's best for yourself and family."

And who says Woj isn't right on the money?

Since he entered the league, the media has basically kissed LeBron's ass, hailed him as the next big thing and outside a couple of incidents that he's copped some flak for, have been pretty kind to him. Now, a few very valid criticisms are lobbed his way and he's being treated unfairly? I call bullshit.

As far as Paul being like Duncan, how is that "easily laughable"? Wojnarowski was suggesting that it would be better for Paul to take his cues from Duncan in terms of professionalism and handling his business. Sage advice, really.

[NovU]

Now, a few very valid criticisms are lobbed his way

Can’t agree with you there Andrew. My stance is pretty much opposite of yours on this matter. His article title “Paul bends to King James’ rule.”, I just think is stupid to start with. Paul is his own man, why is Woj is making him a Lebron’s bitch to start with when it hasn’t even happened yet.

As for Tim Duncan stuff, obviously it wasn’t like I didn’t understand him, but I’d say it’s a bad example, a very bad one. TD has won rings and been the serious contender all career long. The very reason Paul wants to leave is to win, to become the winner. If NOH could offer that like SAS had, I don’t think he’d wanna leave at all. Tyson Chandler who was a good friend was traded, Paul also showed displeasure in that. Not being in his shoes, Woj only goes on to assume that being Tim Duncan like guy is the best for him while pretty much claiming leaving is just bad no matter what. He seems to be more opinionated that Lebron in every way.

Last but not least, I thought the remarks by Lebron, was blown out of proportion. Didn’t KG say something similar but more direct to the point before? That he’d leave the Wolves earlier if he can go back the time. He's regretting it now.

[Andrew]

Can’t agree with you there Andrew. My stance is pretty much opposite of yours on this matter. His article title “Paul bends to King James’ rule.”, I just think is stupid to start with. Paul is his own man, why is Woj is making him a Lebron’s bitch to start with when it hasn’t even happened yet.

How do you know Chris Paul hasn't been influenced here? Considering that he's now doing business with Maverick Carter and William Wesley - two prominent and influential members of LeBron's camp - this isn't exactly wild speculation by someone with no connections or knowledge of the situation. It would be naive to think that LeBron and his associates are sitting idly by twiddling their thumbs and not offering him any sort of counsel on his career. Given the spectacle they made of themselves recently, maybe they're not the best people to listen to and that's Woj's point.

I should also mention that when I refer to criticism of LeBron, I'm not just talking this article. It's not like he's above criticism or been treated unfairly by the media throughout his career. It seems as though your reaction to anything about LeBron that is less than glowing praise is that it's unfair, unwarranted and shouldn't be uttered. And that, frankly, is a homerish stance to take. Look, I do actually like LeBron, but with some of the decisions he's made, he's fair game.

As for Tim Duncan stuff, obviously it wasn’t like I didn’t understand him, but I’d say it’s a bad example, a very bad one.

It's not a bad example at all. Their situations differ, but frankly that's irrelevant. It's about how they handle their business and whether they make a spectacle of their affairs. It's about seeking a messy "divorce" from one's team. It's about resolving these matters behind closed doors. Tim Duncan carries himself very well in this regard, as has Chris Paul in the past. Wojnarowski is saying he shouldn't deviate from that path and that's a fair call. Paul has reason to be disgruntled where Duncan perhaps does not, but that doesn't mean he can't continue to conduct himself has he has been throughout his career to date.

Last but not least, I thought the remarks by Lebron, was blown out of proportion. Didn’t KG say something similar but more direct to the point before? That he’d leave the Wolves earlier if he can go back the time. He's regretting it now.

I don't actually recall reading about KG making remarks to that effect, if you've got a link to what you're talking about I'd check it out. Otherwise I can't really compare the situations, I honestly don't remember those comments or their context.

[benji]

He's referring to this: http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/m ... 3/21796180

“Loyalty is something that hurts you at times, because you can’t get youth back,” Garnett said Thursday night after the Celtics eliminated the Cavs 94-85 with the help of his 22-point, 12-rebound performance straight out of 1998. “I can honestly say that if I could go back and do my situation over, knowing what I know now with this organization, I’d have done it a little sooner.”

[Andrew]

I see. Still, there's a difference between reflecting on one's own career and offering advice to someone else. That's certainly interesting that KG said that though, having stuck it out so long in Minnesota.

[NovU]

It was KG to Lebron message though.

On this case, I am going to agree to disagree with you, Andrew. I still think the criticism was well intended to make it more interesting than it actually is and overblown everything by margin, thus attempting to turn readers to be the hater.

Anyways, this article I thought was a good read on Homer vs Hater.