Chris Paul Wants Out of New Orleans. Will There Be a CP3 Sighting In Orlando?

Posted by By Sports Session at 23 July, at 10 : 23 AM Print

In an unthinkable turn of events Chris Paul seems to be very close to leaving the New Orleans Hornets, Paul is their franchise player and really one of the only stars on that team.  Paul is trying to get with other NBA stars and create a “super team” much like Lebron, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh did in Miami.  This is yet another reason I am not a fan of “The Decision”,  Paul has apparently let New Orleans ownership and front office brass know that now is the time to work out a trade.

So far, the teams interested come in two different directions. One being the teams that have an inherent need and desire to have Paul on the roster. The other being the list of teams Paul would like to go to, now you must note that Paul does not have a no trade clause in his contract so he does not have as much leverage for the coming season to force this.

Right now it looks like the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic are the front runners and two teams that are on Paul’s short list.  The New Jersey Nets seem to be distant suitors for his services, and the Dallas Mavericks are in the mix as well from scattered reports.  Nevertheless, it’s going to take a creative deal to get Paul and the $14.9 million he is owed next season, and the near $34 million he is owed in the two seasons beyond.

Paul has stated that New York his top choice. Combine that with the Knicks comparatively financial flexibility and it appears like the right match.  However, though they did not come through with advantages in this list, the Magic have one advantage pieces to trade.  The Magic could pull it off by trading Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, and whatever other piece helps match the salaries, and those are more attractive pieces than what the Knicks offer.

That alone should get the Magic in the door first, and for Orlando it would honestly be an upgrade and maybe the change they need to win a title.  It works for them because Nelson is a good point guard, but not the same caliber as Chris Paul.  He makes about $6 million dollars a year, and the Magic can send the failed Vince Carter experiment and his $16.9 million dollar contract to New Orleans for Paul.  The Magic would actually save money, it just makes sense, and the Hornets would get something for Paul.  The best part for the Hornets is Vince Carters contract expires at the end of this coming season, and they could probably resign him to a lesser deal since his skills have regressed.

The Hornets are going to try and salvage their relationship with Paul, but I do not think it is going to work.  The organization is in a rebuilding/cutting costs phase right now and Paul wants to be with a winner.  If they don’t trade him then he will just play out his contract disgruntled for the next few seasons, and then he will leave and they won’t get anything for him.  The Hornets would get better with Nelson and Carter coming to the team, now you have two more threats instead of one and the team would have more depth.

As a Magic fan I hope Paul comes to Orlando, and they send Carter and Nelson away.  The Magic won’t win a title with Carter being a major cog on the team, he has lost too much and still thinks he “has it”.  We will see what Paul does over the next few weeks, and see if the Magic can work a little on him.

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