Myth: Paul has no say in where he goes

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He comes here, Rockets win 60 games the first year and win a title, Paul becomes very happy. The end.

 

From Hoopsworld.

Chris Paul's Escape Plan

The New Orleans Hornets want to hear from Chris Paul. They've read the reports, heard the rumors, and received calls from teams around the league but they're not ready to do anything until Paul himself tells the Hornets' brass that he wants out of New Orleans.

That's likely to happen on Monday, when Paul will meet with team officials and discuss where their relationship will go from here.

While Paul has yet to demand a trade from the Hornets, he's spent the last several weeks looking into potential destinations and telling those close to him that he's planning to force his way out of New Orleans.

Shortly after the NBA Finals concluded, the reports started to surface. Chris Paul was unhappy, he wasn't sure if the Hornets were committed to winning, and teams were making offers. What started all of the madness? Paul had voiced his displeasure to several players he is close with while in Los Angeles for a Jordan brand photo shoot. Word traveled that Paul was unhappy which led to the flurry of calls and columns.

When team president Hugh Weber made it clear that the Hornets wouldn't trade Paul and the point guard shied away from the spotlight, it seemed as if a divorce wasn't looming after all. In fact, one of the jokes told frequently at the first few days of the Las Vegas Summer League was that the Hornets public relations staff was hard at work constantly dispelling the "crazy rumor" that Paul could somehow be dealt this summer.

But behind the scenes, Paul hadn't been keeping such a low profile. In early July, Paul had been spending a lot of time with LeBron James in Ohio, being present at his basketball camp in Akron and hanging out with James as he weighed his free agency options. While the world wondered where James would sign, Paul wondered if there was a way they could play together. William Wesley made it clear that if a team was able to acquire Paul, it would greatly increase their chances of signing James but Worldwide Wes wasn't the only one drawing up trade scenarios.

Just days before "The Decision" aired on ESPN, James and Paul had a lengthy phone conversation with Amar'e Stoudemire, who had just signed with the New York Knicks. The trio discussed the possibility of playing together in New York. Stoudemire was already there, James would sign next, and then Paul would demand a trade to the Knicks.

Some reports have indicated that it was always Paul's plan to join James once his contract was up but when the Hornets didn't pursue free agents and surround him with the talent he wanted, it sped along the process. James would ultimately sign with the Miami Heat, where the supporting cast of stars was a sure thing, but the seed was already planted in Paul's head. Though James was out of the picture, the dialogue continued and that weekend, the point guard jokingly announced at Carmelo Anthony's wedding that a new big three – consisting of himself, Stoudemire, and Anthony – was going to form in New York.

This is why when Paul first created a wish list of trade destinations, New York was atop his list. He wanted to compete with James, Wade, and Bosh and get in on the fun. But because Paul would likely be packaged with Emeka Okafor's bad contract, the dream scenario would be dead as the Knicks wouldn't be able to sign Anthony next summer. Updating his list with more "realistic" options, Paul now sees a trade to Orlando as his ideal situation.

In Vegas, Jeff Bower acknowledged that it was Magic general manager Otis Smith's dream to acquire Paul. "But they can't have him and they know it," Bower quickly added in an exclusive interview with HOOPSWORLD. Just one day later, however, Bower would part ways with the Hornets leading to all kinds of speculation about Paul's future in New Orleans.

At the end of the day, the Hornets don't have to trade their star as they have leverage in this situation. They can try to talk things out, surround him with better talent, and hope that the relationship can be fixed.

But it's clear that Paul has been trying to find an escape route for awhile now. He has repeatedly voiced his frustration and attempted to find greener pastures. Even though he hasn't talked with the Hornets just yet, this is a conversation that Paul has had with many others in recent weeks.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16909

 

that part of the article needed to be in bold.

 

This part of the article also needs to be in bold

 

I think the OP should now realize the folly of his ways. CP3 absolutely has no say. Only King James can dictate where he goes. CP3 is a mindless drone to the overlord that is Lebron James. The fact that the OP felt otherwise show just how little he knows the truth in the NBA.

via twitter.com/pdcavsinsider

 

not all their stuff is crap. nothing wrong with that article.

 

How do you know? Once you publish things that the author acknowledges were made up then you lose your credibiltiy. Why would you trust anything that they say?

 

I guess I wasn't around during the falling out with Hoopsworld. Can you elaborate on this?

 

The National Enquirer broke the story about John Edwards' affair. The NY Times got famously burned by Jayson Blair. You have to take a guess as to the individual merits of each story rather than assuming that the venue it's appearing in guarantees its quality one way or the other.

My guess is that if the Hornets can't talk Paul down then they'll trade him.

 

Their Rocket's columnist (who was a member here) published a story that contained supposed inside info. Turns out the "inside info" wasn't even legal under league rules. We called him on it and he posted an admission that he'd made up the information. Good that he came clean, but it doesn't do much for your credibility. It made it hard to trust anything from that site.

That's why that URL use to be blocked from this site (maybe still is).

 

Once the fraud was uncovered, did the NY Times continue to publish articles by that same author?

 

Yes, from what I recall the Times did continue to publish Blair's articles. He first lied about the DC sniper case and the prosecutor went public stating that most of Blair's article was bogus. After that the Times switched Blair over to covering the war in Iraq but continued to publish his stories.

 

Nelson + Gortatt + three #1's (or take away one for Orton) and a couple 2nds.

Probably as good a deal as NO can get.

 

5 draft picks??? Too much

 

If I were the Hornets I would tell Paul and his agent that we might consider trading Paul for Bosh. Just planting the idea in their heads and see what happens.

 

Let's see I think in trade with NOs, we pretty much lose:

Aaron Brooks or Kyle Lowry (it would have to happen later in season - Lowry's case)
Jared Jeffries
Jordan Hill, Chuck Hayes, or Luis Scola (unlikely though)
One of the New York picks, and our own is definitely likely, more likely the New York Picks
Probably Battier or Ariza, or even Chase


It's not like NO would get shafted, either especially if they get Brooks. Brooks and Collison would be an outstanding point guard duo. I think any of our forwards certainly give NO more depth at power forward.

They'd have a very competitive team

 

Orlando:

Nelson+fillers

and

Infinite 1st round picks every other year til CP3 retires.

too much?

 

Bottom line Paul wants to win, you put him in a winning situation and he will be happy.

Also worst case scenario we lose him in a sign and trade because he won't leave as a free agent after this new CBA comes out and reduces all salaries.

 

Assuming that there are even "Sign and trades" available.

You might not need that, if they institute a "Franchise" tag.

DD