Three trade scenarios involving Chris Paul
Ken Berger of CBS Sports has a source that says Paul has been far more aggressive in angling for a trade than we’ve been led to believe.
When Paul was quoted a few weeks ago as saying he’d be open to a trade if the Hornets aren’t committed to building a championship team, it was only a small hint as to the size of the chasm that exists between the franchise and its cornerstone player. Paul, in fact, has put into motion an aggressive exit strategy that will accelerate in the coming weeks, and his clear intention is to be traded before the start of the 2010-11 season, a person with direct knowledge of his plans told CBSSports.com Wednesday.
“He wants out,” said the person, who has been briefed on Paul’s strategy but spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it publicly. “He wants to play with another superstar. He wants to follow LeBron’s model of teaming up with other great players.”
Paul’s list of preferred destinations consists of the Knicks, Magic and Lakers, and members of his inner circle already have sent word to the Hornets of his desire to be traded to one of those teams, sources say. If Paul has his way, he’s played his last game in a Hornets jersey.
Couple this with the changes at head coach and general manager and it’s clear that the Hornets are a franchise in flux. (This is also why it was so surprising that the Nets were considering Jeff Bower as their GM. He drafted well in New Orleans, but his trades for Peja Stojakovic and Emeka Okafor have put the team in its current predicament.)
So it sounds as if Paul has made his mind up, and is using the ‘committed to winning’ reasoning to get everyone ready for a possible trade. The three teams he reportedly wants to go to all have another star. The Lakers and Magic are established champions/contenders, while the Knicks are attractive due to the market and the presence of Amare Stoudemire.
The writing has been on the wall for some time now, and if the Hornets can’t convince Paul to stick around, their choice is clear. They need to package him with Okafor’s contract and rebuild around their promising young backcourt of Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton.
Here are a few possible trades that make some sense for both sides:
LAKERS
Of the three teams mentioned, the Lakers are able to offer the most attractive package. Perhaps L.A. would be willing to send Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom to the Hornets for Paul and Okafor. (See this deal in ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine.) At first glance this seems to be a lot to give up for a disgruntled star, but we’re talking about the best or the second-best point guard in the league. L.A. has just won two titles — why fix something that isn’t broken? Well, an aging Celtics team just took them to seven games, so the new-look Miami Heat must have the Lakers’ brass a little worried. There’s a saying: If you’re not getting better, you’re falling behind.
For their part, this deal would allow the Hornets to save $5 million this season, and would give the team enough cap space next summer for a max free agent. In total, they would save around $20 million over the next few years, depending on how much of Lamar Odom’s final year is guaranteed. If Bynum can put his knee problems behind him, he’d be a nice addition to the Collison/Thornton core. If not, then the Hornets can get out of the deal in the summer of 2012.
The big downside for the Hornets would be trading Paul to an already strong team in the conference. They’d essentially be enabling the Lakers to control the West for the next several years.
MAGIC
Orlando would be a good landing spot for Paul as he’d form a scary one-two punch with Dwight Howard. Plus, the rivalry between the Heat and Magic would be a lot of fun. I just don’t know if the Magic have the pieces to pull off a trade.
There’s a big drop off in talent after Howard, especially when salaries are taken into consideration. Rashard Lewis is a nice player, but he’s overpaid, and the Hornets wouldn’t want to take the three years and $60+ million remaining on his deal. Jameer Nelson is a quality point guard at a good price, but the Hornets already have Collison, so that position isn’t an area of need. One player who should definitely be involved is Marcin Gortat, who has shown the ability to be a starting center in the NBA (and is also at a reasonable price).
How about this deal, which would send Paul/Okafor to Orlando for Nelson, Gortat, Mickael Pietrus and Brandon Bass? The Magic could include a first round pick or two to sweeten the deal. Perhaps the Hornets could get a third team involved to take Nelson off their hands and bring in some talent on the wing.
KNICKS
The Knicks could offer a big package of players that would give the Hornets some good young prospects as well as salary cap relief. How about a deal that would send Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Anthony Randolph (along with the expiring contracts of Eddy Curry and Kelenna Azubuike) to New Orleans for Paul and Okafor?
The Knicks would get the superstar tandem they were searching for this summer and a decent center to keep Amare Stoudemire fresh. The Hornets could add Randolph, Gallinari and Chandler to their young core. A starting lineup of Collison, Thornton, Chandler/Gallinari, West and Randolph would be inexperienced but promising and fun to watch.
The point is — the Hornets have options. They will have no shortage of suitors and if the new GM (Dell Demps) doesn’t pull a Chris Wallace and trade away his best player without shopping him around, then the franchise will get a pretty good deal. The fan base isn’t going to be happy, but holding Paul hostage isn’t going to do anyone any good either.
With Chris Broussard’s report that the Mavs and Blazers are on Paul’s short list, here are a few more trades with those teams.
Follow the Scores Report editors on Twitter @clevelandteams and @bullzeyedotcom.
its true that the celtics did push the lakers to seven games but if you listen to annalysts, they said that if bynum was healthy, it wouldnt have gone seven games. so if you trade away odom and bynum, you are taking away 2 of the 3 towers. height made the lakers hard to defend. its true that cp3 would make the lakers better but not for odom and bynum even if they get okafor with cp3.
as a laker fan, thats true mark. okafor is not even a 7 footer. what kind of tower would he make. trade away others like blake and brown and others for cp3. miami is scary but they still wont be able to dethrone the lakers, baby!!!!
Why would the Lakers to give away Odom and Bynum for those two? There are several other options for pursuance, such as; Bynum, Walton, Vujicic, and the addition of picks or the use of Rookie, like Caracter.
Bynum and Odom are certainly not the only Laker trade option.
THATS CRAZY! Bynum and Odom = waaaay too much! I read somewhere else that a str8 paul for bynum trade would work. I really like Chris Paul but torn about giving up Bynum! We’ve one it twice essitially without Bynum so thats kinda having me lean toward i would do that trade as we have other bigs but always lacked at the point. (except for timly shots) lol
Hey lets put all the stars on a few teams and they could barnstorm across the conrty beating the snot out of the rest of the league. Oh wait can watch the Harlem Globetrotters do that for less money and more entertainment value. The NBA is lost.
Is there anything sadder than someone who comments twice on a blog post under two different names to make it seem like someone agrees with him? Mark and Jimmy are the same person.
Guys, I realize you’re Laker fans and are already deficient when it comes to comprehending trade value, but you’re going to have to give some talent up to get a top 10 player like Paul and guys like Vujacic, Walton and Brown aren’t going to get it done. Bynum’s knees are a big question mark and I suspect whoever gets Paul in the end will have to take Okafor’s contract on as well.
Besides, according to Chris Broussard, the Lakers aren’t even on Paul’s short list, so we’re probably just wasting our breath.
John…
Trade Value?
Bynum + Odom = 14 feet! lol 14′ for 6’1″… ummmmm
in short… no pun intended LOL
I’d say NOPE, and roll with Fisher, Blake, Sascha, and Shannon
leave it to a lakers fan to spell “won” one lol… Go jazz
Bynum has trouble staying on the court, so he’s a risk, and Odom is a bum. He has underachieved his entire career, no reason to think that’s ever going to change. None of these deals make a whole lot of sense.
Lakers will need to upgrade, because Miami will be a force, and with Lebron on the team, the Lakers won’t have the benefit of lopsided officiating on their side as they did this past season. The refs won’t know who’s nuts to swing on.
The ONE and done Jazz…. smh Deron is next to want OUT!!!
The Lakers wont give up Bynum and Odom. Although Bynum was injured, he still gave valuable LONG (as in height) minutes. Odom when on his game is this generations Scottie Pippen. Not a Lakers fan, but I wouldnt. N.O. wants cap relief so they need young low dollar players. Hence the Knicks are the best choice. And YES, Im a Knicks fan. But business is business. Orlando has the same probs as Lakers. Too many high dollar contracts.
Boy, wish I could carry the ball, take 3 steps to the basket, push off, not play defense on my old man league team.
Although the NBA can be comical at times for basketball purist’s, the NBA is about to get exciting and become water cooler talking material again.
I once believed in parity in the NBA. Now I see the error of my ways. Just like in the 80’s this will bring the NBA back up to those fan crazy days. I would rather watch great “teams” play each other and developing teams. For the developing ones it will be a huge upset to beat them and everyone of these teams will get up for the “superteams” every night.
Parity was boring. Sad but true.
I say CP3 come to Houston we have a lot of young talent to give and we are a championship team
CP3 to Houston please
CP3 to Houston please
Hey, No way I’ll give up both Bynum and Odom. In fact I’ll be hard pressed to give up on either of them. You can’t coach height especially when it’s been to your advantage. They both fit into P.Jackson’s system and are very good players. The lakers need another trade like they made with Memphis. Send Walton, Shasa, Josh Powell and Anderson’s contract for C.P. Let’s face it without CP Memphis isn’t going anywhere so, clear unexpiring contracts and make more money for upcoming drafts, trades and free agency. Plus, they just hired a young unproven coach and need time to grow and adjust. In the right system these players are young and will make very good role players.
John Paulson, i have a big issue with your final comment. Why would you say the Hornets are holding Paul hostage? I’m sorry but its Paul who is holding the Hornets hostage. He signed a contract to play for them, now he wants to pull a Lebron and leave for greener pastures. I’m sorry but the Hornets should not trade him, unless the new owner wants to rebuild the team, no matter who’s on the roster. Paul has an obligation to fulfill his contract, end of story. I would love for the Hornets to trade Paul to a lottery team, say the Wolves, or Toronto. If Paul is willing to sabatoge his team, why should the team not do the same with Paul’s career? Sorry, i have no patience for these overpaid, egomanic players. I love the NBA, been watching for 25 years, but i’m sickened by what the NBA has become.
So management isn’t responsible for the current state of the team? They have gone from up-and-coming contender to a non-playoff team.
They have every right to hold onto him, but it’s not going to do anyone any good.
As a forty-year student of the NBA game, I can see the positives and negatives of the
Bynum and Blake for Okufar and Paul straight trade
julio says BYNUM AND ODOM FOR NOWITZKI
CP3, nice but his to much of a showboat. Yes his quick and smart but the Lakers dont need a showboat. We have one already, Kobe. We need a point guard that is humble, unselfish and willing to sacrifice. However, to trade Lamar and Bynum, that is hard to swallow. We need to remember that the Lakers were hard to play against because we had Height while the other teams had quickness.
Now, now, be nice Mr. Paulsen. Mark or Jimmy may have multiple personalities or need positive feedback in his life. Maybe he has an alter ego that writes haikus and makes wisecracks like I do.
Here, I’ll go first. Mark or Jimmy, while I may disagree with some things you may have to say you have some valid points and I respect your opinion.Let’s all be friends.
The Lakers don’t need a star point Gaurd,and woould never trade Andrew, maybe odom, but never Andrew. With Blake backing up Fisher we will be fine. and Theo Raff, will be a good back up.
I just saw where the Lakers are supposedly getting Matt Barnes along with Theo
Ratliff. Blake, Ratliff, Barnes and the two rookies is a pretty nice offseason haul if this is legit with Barnes. They finally have a decent bench now.
Keep him in NO on the bench until he wants to play basketball. He has 2 years left on his contract.
how about the bulls? they would be a great fit rose,paul,boozer etc
John — Check the other Chris Paul post for my thoughts on the Blazers:
http://www.scoresreport.com/2010/07/22/two-more-trade-ideas-for-chr
is-paul/
chris paul will be going to the new york knicks this season to play with amare. next season melo will be going to the knicks as well. next season there will be another super team, the knicks. mark my word it’s already in motion as we speak.
hey john paulsen, hate to break your heart but jimmy and i are two different people. just used the same computer. both of us are just die hard laker fans. its true that the guys i mentioned are not enough for cp3 but hate to lose bynum though even if its cp3.
Paul to Minnie! Give up rights to Rubio, along with J.Flynn and Kevin Love. Paul with Beasley, Millicic, & Martell Webster. Wow! that was way off! Sorry, Minnie isn’t even an after thought. BTW: KG, your a rich thug and all the money in teh world can’t buy you class! Go pump your chest cause yo’ wanka is punie!
Rudy, you are defenitely on point. WE need our height, and WE love our own showboat, Kobe.
Mark, if you and Jimmy are different people, he must have been practically sitting in your lap when he made his comment since they were made just eight minutes apart.
Both Mark and Jimmy neglect the use of apostrophes and fail to capitalize proper names. Interesting.
yah john paulsen, i like having friends around. i guess you surf the web by yourself.
the way our bench is shapping up i think this team is going to be just fine !
The Lakers improved a lot defensively last season. With the addition of Barnes and Ratliff Lakers can go all the way again. Lets prove to the league that we don’t need to try and make teams superior. Lets keep the competiton balanced!!!
orlando would be a beast in the east if they can obtain CP’s service
It would certainly be an unbelievable trade if the lakers can land Chris, but it all depends on who they must render in order for both parties to be satisfied with the potential trade. If Pau’s team must give up Scrotum and injury prone Bynum, this would ultimately affect the Lakers inside presense and the height advantage they had during the past 3 seasons which also is the most critical competitive advantage that they possess. But these are all tangibles argument, but the fact is that the intangible element (chemistry) would weigh much more when deciding upon the trade. These 3 towers had been playing for a long duration together since …….. this is irreplaceable and time is usually the main component for the product of chemistry. Even with Isiah Thomas wanabe running the team….he will need time to develop chemistry with the team….I do beleive that lakers chemistry was one of the main reason why they won it all last yr and yr before…. the lakers cannot afford to give up their main core of their lineup because the risk is not worth it….Chemistry and talent is the two components that build Dynasty!!!!
Raptors for champion next year!!!!!!
Prediction MVP next season
Andrea: 30ppg, 11rpg, 4apg, 2bpg…..
Deron Williams may have wanted out except for The Jazz just signed Al Jefferson and Raja Bell to replace Boozer and Korver going to the Bulls. Deron said he could not be happier with these to coming in. Kobe wanted Raja so bad he arranged a private meeting and helocopter ride but the Jazz made a great offer and Raja told Kobe keep your gas money,I have a better deal in Utah. plus the Jazz retained Milsap and Miles who were highly sought after in the last two seasons. The lakers are just matching the Jazz trades to stay competative. I think the Jazz will not sit back as everyone thought. Now they will definately make the playoffs. CP3 should go east to keep the rivalry with D-Will more interesting.
Paul is a great player but do the Lakers want to part with Bynum??? I can see him teaming with D Howard in Orlando.
Man that shxt would never happen we would never give up lamar and bynum for Chris and emeka. The lakers would lose a lot of the size and depth of our bench for no reason when we have a team that is clearly capable of 3peating and coming home with the Championship again that would be a lost for the lakers.