Chris Paul hopes to represent New Orleans "for many years to come"

I disagree. While it isn't a monumental amount of leverage compared to just waiting a year and trading him. They do lose some leverage depending on who they might want for him or who is on the table.

For example, I think the Rockets will have a really good year this year (as long as Yao...) are they really going to want to make a roster changing trade in the middle of a season and they sit 2nd or 3rd in the conference? Maybe a few games out of first?

The same can be said for all of those teams he wants to go to outside of the Knicks. If they want the absolute best return from CP3 they would do it before the season. That's before teams fall in love with players they just thought about trading.

 

DieHard has it nailed. This is all pub. They've already got an agreement with Chris that if he plays hard and holds the company line and they haven't majorly improved by the deadline, that they will move him.

Chris does have leverage. With a lockout looming after this next season, all he has to do is state he is not picking up his option and he is essentially a free agent at the end of this season. The Hornets know his trade value will decline. I believe he is gone by the trade deadline.

 

I hope Chris is prepared to not make the Playoffs again this season because that is what's going to happen staying in New Orleans.

 

There hasn't been a lockout yet, a lot of times these deals between players and owners get done as close to the line as possible.

Also Paul's has two years left before his option. So it doesn't come into play for teams wanting to trade him until next season...if there is a next season.

 

Haha lebron is now officially the most hated person in the NBA... cp3 just punkd him, the whole "my brother" thing was just a setup! Nice

 

Look, if there is a lockout on 2011-12, which all signs are pointing to, and Paul doesn't want to stay in New Orleans, he is essentially an expiring contract by the end of this season. If 2011-12 is lost or mostly lost, then there is going to be very little time for the Hornets to move him in 2012 when he announces he isn't going to exercise his option and he is going to become an unrestricted free agent.

The shelf life on Paul is a lot less than what it appears. And the GMs around the league all know it.

 

Good Thread thanks.

Yeah yeah, the franchise probably told him you have a contract and will play and make a PR statement that you want to stay here for years to come, or we will punish you financially (or help you/let you make a deal later). That way NO fans calm down and season ticket sales return to normal.

Or they also might decide to really listen to him and try to add talent to the roster, I don't know if they make enough money as a franchise to afford it though.

Stars talk out of their necks all the time because they have to. If the fans are worried or mad they won't buy jerseys and tickets, at the end of the day it is still a business.

Remember when this guy said this stuff?

Then this

 

so did tmac, but it doesn't matter it's up to management, and it's up to the owner. if they are truly in financial troubles and they don't look good at the start of the season i can still see him being traded

 

The Hornets can't afford to add talent to the roster. By 2012, Paul will be playing elsewhere,if not this year. They simply just can't contend.

 

That's good, now we can let this team jell together for another season with the


addition of Brad Miller & a healthy Yao, we're built to contend with anyone of


the top teams in the league!

 

All signs may point to it, but the powers that be will say anything to make it seem like their side is not backing down. This is a game of chicken any ways and we won't really know if there will be a lockout until the time comes.

Also the lockout doesn't have to be for the entire season, it could be for a few weeks or a month or two if there is one.

Also if anything the GMs have acted like there will be no lockout with how teams have used their cap space this summer, if there is a shot at having CP3 on your team there will and should be a line of teams waiting to take a chance at that rental. Because any team trading for him will have the confidence that they can convince him to stay.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/13671341/after-hornets-meeting-paul-still-seeking-way-out/rss

Charlotte can offer Dampier's contract, Gerald Wallace; NJN can offer some combo of Favors/Williams/Harris/Lee; Orlando can offer some cap relief

 

[CBS] After Hornets meeting, Paul still seeking way out

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/...g-paul-still-seeking-way-out/rss?paul_hornets

Despite positive statements about his future in New Orleans following Monday's meeting with the team, Chris Paul is still seeking a way out, according to a source close to the point guard.

It at first appeared as though the Hornets had completely ended the Paul saga, but Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that isn't the case.

"The telltale thing is that Chris Paul won't comment publicly other than what was released about it," said a person familiar with Paul's strategy.

"Leon Rose didn't come out and say, 'Chris is happy in New Orleans.' If he was happy, they would've said that. ... The only way they can get close to full value is to say, 'You guys can't make trade demands.' They're orchestrating this thing to likely move him."

 

Well if Hornets are trading him to the East we can forget about this and move on now. Granger is a better fit any way.

 

Agreed. This is a business decision and CP3's ability on the basketball court has very little to do with it (other than the tickets he sells by being a superstar).

 

RealGm can be suspect at times. Right now the Rockets getting Paul seems to rely on about as many what ifs as Houston winning a ring.

We can get Paul, if only there are no better offers, and only if the trade rumors are fake, and if only Paul doesn't listen to Papa LeBron, and only if... the list goes on.

Let's face facts, we will not get that second scorer this season. We need someone on our roster to step up big.

 

I don't think we are looking for a second scorer...I think this team has enough scoring with Brooks and Martin and Yao and Scola.

I think you mean second star player. Definitely someone like Brooks,Martin, Scola needs to step up and become that 2nd all-star player. If I were to bet on anyone filling that role it will be Scola. After all he has played really well last year since Landry's departure and I think maybe all those rumors about us getting Bosh has motivated him.

 

Thanks for the link.

Looks like CP3 will be heading east.

 

The combination of Brooks,Martin,and Scola is enough to go alongside Yao. We don't need another star.

 

Hard to see why they'd be so intent on trading him to the East. It's not likely N.O.'s going to be among the top teams anyway, so why would it matter? They should just look for the best deal.