http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-paulhornets062110 [rquoter]As the July 1 start of free agency pushes closer, powerbroker William Wesley has been working multiple angles to NBA front offices about possible trades and signings. Here’s his latest: World Wide Wes has been pitching teams with salary-cap space that trading for New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul(notes) will dramatically increase their chances of signing LeBron James(notes), multiple sources told Yahoo! Sports. New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower has no intention of trading Paul, but multiple league executives believe that until owner George Shinn closes on the team’s sale with billionaire oilman Gary Chouest, there is a price with which Paul could be pried away. “He can be had with Shinn in there, but once the new guy takes over, he’s off the market,” one senior front office executive told Y! Sports. Can Wesley deliver Paul? Extremely doubtful, but that hasn’t stopped his sales pitch to teams, league sources said. First of all, Paul hasn’t requested a trade out of New Orleans, so the franchise isn’t under pressure to move him. He has two years and $31.3 million left on his contract until he can opt out before the 2012-13 season. Privately, Paul has been displeased with Shinn’s constant cost-cutting measures, but has been optimistic about new ownership’s stated desire to spend more and try to compete in the powerful Western Conference. What’s more, Paul is loyal and values his connection to his Hornets teammates and the New Orleans community. Bower hasn’t made calls offering Paul, sources said, nor do the Hornets plan to initiate conversations on him. New Orleans has received a steady stream of inquires on Paul, but Bower and Chouset have no interest in moving him. ... ... Why would World Wide Wes want to help broker a deal for Paul? Here are two reasons: First, James loves the prospect of playing with one of the best point guards in the NBA. Secondly, it would show Paul how Wesley could make things happen for him, and perhaps get him to leave Octagon for Wesley and Leon Rose at CAA. The Memphis Grizzlies offered O.J. Mayo(notes) as part of a package for Paul recently, but talks went nowhere. League sources believe the New Jersey Nets are willing to part with the No. 3 pick and every player on their roster except for center Brook Lopez(notes) to obtain Paul. Also, the Portland Trail Blazers – who’ve long targeted Paul – are expected make a bid for Paul prior to the draft, a source said. The San Antonio Spurs once had a chance to be frontrunners for Paul – if New Orleans ever felt compelled to make a trade – because they could offer an All-Star caliber point guard in Tony Parker(notes). Nevertheless, the emergence of Darren Collison(notes) allows the Hornets to make a trade without taking back a point guard. Now, New Orleans could possibly improve itself at two positions – perhaps shooting guard and small forward – and get draft picks. It’s hard to imagine the Hornets agreeing to move their franchise star for much, if anything, short of an All-Star, a starter and a high draft pick.[/rquoter]
Paul for an all-star , as starter AND a high draft pick?? Thats the kind of stuff you ask for a Lebron james, not Chris Paul... i wonder what Morey has to give up for the #4...i think NO would be interested in the 34 for Paul swap, so they can take Cousins. Then they can possibly draft George at #11: Collison Thornton George Okafor cousins Peja expires next summer and if they can possibly convince west to opt out and trade him in a sign and trade, then they can make a nice move next summer and add a big name or two next summer
I don't get this, why trade your franchise player when you can trade Collison when his stock is so high?
I'd love to see him on our team but Morey would really have to work his magic to get them to accept: Budinger, Brooks, Ariza, Martin for Paul, Peterson, Wright
we can at least beat the Blazers' offer (won't include Roy for sure) and what gives us advantage over teams trying to get Lebron is we don't need the cap space this summer and we're willing to take back bad contracts from New Orleans so... why not give a try?
Oh so Morey Brought Martin for future trade, can you imagine what our starting line-up would be if this trade happened, very bad move.
Paul / Lowry Peterson / Taylor Battier / Wright Scola / Hill / Jeffries Yao / Andersen / Hayes Plus #14 (best available) Plus MLE (Miller?) Plus LLE (?) But you homers don't have to worry. NO would hang up the phone on that list. I don't know how many times I have to say that we don't have the stud that we need. IF you EVER get a CHANCE to get 1, you have to try until you succeed because you don't get many chances. We will never win a championship without a stud. Martin and Brooks are very good role players - but they will never be the stud. Once you get your stud, you get your role players. And who knows - maybe, just maybe, Lebron wants to join him. Right now we are a Dallas Maverick B team - with Martin and Brooks. If we keep them at all costs, we always will be their B.
So you think that having the bext PG in the league (when healthy) is enough to win a title? That lineup you threw up is about as strong as the current Hornets... granted our bench is MUCH stronger, it is still not championship calibre. Peterspm as our starting SG is HERENDOUS, we'd have no backup SF who is worth a grain of salt, and STILL no backup C. I am not a homer, and I do believe we need big changes. tweaking our lineup with just one backup C isn't going to solve our problems, however your idea of cleaning out our entire team for one player isn't a good one.
You'd still have MLE, #14 and LLE to fill in the holes. Peterson is not that bad and Wright is a decent backup SF. Miller would be on my list for backup C. And Les has always been open to purchasing additional picks which Morey can work his magic. You could make the trade after July 1 when Paul loses his BYC and you won't have to made the trade as complicated but I really doubt you're going to get Paul for what I offered much less less. You might be able to keep some players and offer more picks but seriously this is all just pie in the sky. But staying in the sky...Lebron has stated that he'd be interested in joining a team that has Paul. IF you get both Paul and Lebron with Yao, finding fillers and ring chasers would be rather easy.
So let me get this straight - Shinn may be open to trading Paul to save money - so you suggest we offer him a couple big contracts in Martin and Ariza and Brooks, who will receive a big extension this season or next? And they don't so much as get a draft pick? Not only does that trade drastically deplete our depth, it doesn't even make much sense for them.
