[ESPN] Hornets may deal Chris Paul before the season, Rockets in the mix

Why not? This team is stuck in low lottery land, I like the idea of getting CP3 (though I am not a huge fan of his), but as Clutch said, it might net us D Howard too, got to strike while the iron is hot.

What gets me, is how the NBA can trade anyone from the Hornets when they don't have an owner....

DD

 

What are you risking? Instead of wallowing in mediocrity, you give yourself a chance at something. If it doesn't pan out, what do you lose?

 

I'll respectfully disagree. I completely understand your point but I feel this isn't the right situation to go all-in. There is wayyyy to much risk.

Think about what we would need to go right to make a Paul trade successful for us.

1. Paul needs to resign
2. Paul needs to stay healthy
3. Paul needs to stop regressing
4. Orlando doesn't SnT Howard and lets him walk for nothing (if we get him in a trade we lose at least 5-6 core players between the two trades)
5. Howard signs with us
6. Our current Rc/2nd year role players we have left develop into useful NBA'ers

Even if ALL of that happens, are we still better then the Thunder's core with Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka, Harden, Thabo, Maynor, Perkins etc? I;m not so sure we are, and thats playing best case scenario.

I have faith in Lowry taking his game to the next level and that is what will bring Howard to Houston.

-James

 

The Hornets were also 29th in pace, while the Rockets were 8th. Paul was 4th is assists, while Lowry was 14th. And Paul was 1st in steals, while Lowry was 20th. omg stats!!!

 

Because the Magic could easily just deal Howard to the Bulls or Lakers, that would make playing with Paul much less a priority which in turn would mean the end of the Paul era in Houston.

 

Unless Lowry gets traded in a package for Howard, no way in hell Lowry brings Howard to Houston.

You have to understand this is a different NBA than your dad's or big brother's.

Stars wanna play with each other because they are friends. All of the 2008 Olympics buddies colluded with each other to play alongside one another when each of their respected contracts were up.

That's why you have the Heatles forming and Melo and Amare forming.

 

KYLE MOTHEREFFIN LOWRY, other assets.

 

Trade anyone and picks too.

 

Aww man, you mean we have to get a high draft pick instead of going through another 40 something win season to pair with a late lottery pick? DARN!

 

ZachLowe_SI Zach Lowe
Agents agree market for secondary big men on hold until we see where the top guys fall. After that, madness.

 

The Rockets were 4th in offense, NOH was 19th. That accounts for pace.

A team's assists are much more relevant than a single individual's assists.

I don't care about steals, unless it translates into better team defense.

 

Then why did the Hornets make the playoffs and the Rockets stayed home?

 

At the end of the day, I think these stars would rather win a title then play with their buddies. If the Knicks/Heat go down again this year, Howard might see that these Dream Teams aren't the way to win.

All of these arguments for and against it are based off what ifs and players mindsets, neither of which anybody on this message board can accurately predict or know. It makes for great conversation though!

-James

 

That Paul star power has sure helped New Orleans attract other stars all these years. I mean they were able to get Trevor Ariza to come there.

 

All we are risking is a 40 win team, thats it.

1.) If Paul doesn't resign, we finally tank and build through the draft. No big deal.
2.) Paul is 26 years old, he is not regressing. His PER was almost 24 last season. Thats insane.
3.) Health is always a concern
4.) We don't need to trade for Dwight. If Dwight gets traded somewhere, one of two things happens. One, he extends there and Paul's only option is to walk to a worse team for less money (NY). Two, he still walks and we are still an option.

Howard is not coming here w/o another superstar. Its not happening. Lowry could regress for all we know. If we don't hit a homerun in the next crop of superstar free agents, the Lowry led Rockets will never be contenders, thats pretty much guaranteed.

 

New Orleans didn't have the capspace or trade assets to land a Melo, Bosh, Amare, etc.

 

I hate to do this but if you get a shot you almost have to do so. I love Lowry and he is a huge bargain but we do need a star. I would like to pull of a CP3 trade mostly because then we have a shot at Howard.

Lowry+Morris+Flynn+Budinger+Hill+3Million for CP3.

We have to curb the risk if we do lose Paul and we have to give ourselves a shot to win. In the above deal, NO gets a solid and getting better young pg+ the 14th pick in the draft+a starting small forward and a couple young players to take a look at. I would say we sweeten the pot by taking Okafor and matching up with Thabeet and another player or so, but that would hinder our shot at Dwight. Since this would be going all in, I would attempt to sign Tyson Chandler.

Chandler/Hayes
Scola/Patterson
Budinger/Williams
Martin/Lee
CP3/Dragic

 

beggars can't be choosers. Lol @ people complaining that Paul is "declining", like the Rockets have so much better options than him.

 

In morey we trust he will trade 4 cp3 then he will trade him b4 da trade deadline 4 r next young superstar maybe center or he will rape a desperate team 4 all der good players in morey we trust and I have a feeling itz a Houston trades cp3 to minny 4 Rubio and love doubt Minny will bite doe but it was jus a example

 

That's a hell of an offer. I'd think that the Hornets would have to look hard at that. Ordinarily, I'd hesitate, but Chris Paul beats or equals Martin in almost every category... shooting percentage, rebounds, steals, defense, leadership, and he sure as hell beats him passing the ball. Lowry, and I love the guy, simply isn't in the same figurative league. So in a sense, Paul by himself trumps both. Paul is a superstar. Martin is talked about as possibly being a star caliber player, but has yet to become an impact player that can carry a team, and if he hasn't yet, when will he? Ideally, I'd prefer to keep Martin and add Paul, but you have to give to get. Lowry will probably continue to improve, but he's no Chris Paul. If CP3 is healthy, you have to make this deal, assuming the Hornets will do it, and hope you can keep Paul and use him to attract a second star player. Lee replaces Martin. That's Rockets Science.