Save for some banter in the comments and the occasional tweet (oh, and this post from back in April), we’ve tried to treat the Chris Paul “rumors” with a healthy dose of skeptisicm here at Bobcats Baseline. As my colleague ASChin noted (biting Owen Wilson in the process): What in Jordan’s history in the front office makes you think he’s capable of something like that?
But this story refuses to die. First, Rick Bonnell elevated it from “internet rumor” to “semi-legitimate story” with this piece from the weekend that was widely linked to around the intertubes:
Chris Paul as a Charlotte Bobcat isn’t crazy. It’s unlikely. It’s undoubtedly problematic…
But it’s doable, and I’m told it’s a twinkle in the eyes of this team’s decision-makers.
I figured the resolution of the New Orleans Hornets GM vacancy earlier this week might help to calm the speculation down. Wednesday afternoon, ESPN’s John Hollinger even tweeted that Trail Blazer maniacs needed to “stop asking me about CP3. Not happening for at least a year, if ever.”
But Wednesday night CBSSports.com’s Ken Berger tossed a drum of gasoline onto the smoldering embers with this dispatch, titled “New Hornets brass already facing crisis with Paul“. An excerpt to whet your appetite for the link:
Paul, in fact, has put into motion an aggressive exit strategy that will accelerate in the coming weeks, and his clear intention is to be traded before the start of the 2010-11 season, a person with direct knowledge of his plans told CBSSports.com Wednesday. “He wants out,” said the person…
Now never mind that Berger also reveals that Paul’s list of preferred destinations “consists of the Knicks, Magic and Lakers.” What we Bobcats fans know that Berger doesn’t is that Paul really wants to play in his home state, for the founder of the Jumpman brand he endorses, and for Larry Brown. And that we have cap relief in the form of Dampier’s contract waiting.
And that Carmelo Anthony is coming next. For Gana Diop. To complete Team Jumpman. With World Wide Wes as special advisor.
Right?
-Dr. E
P.S. Typing in C-h-r-i-s-P-a-u into Google gets you “Chris Paul” followed by “Chris Paul to bobcats” as the top two suggestions. Ridiculous…
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId…
Great first comment. LOL. Here's a screenshot of the P.S.
http://twitpic.com/27m799
This is getting ridiculous.
I'm not talking about the rumors ('Melo and Durant to the Bobcats for Junior the Nutty Bavarian guy, whoppee!") — talking about this "NEW" NBA where the players control how the teams are built and who plays for who.
David Stern built this house long ago and now he's seeing the cracks in the foundation. It was a poor strategy, selling stars first, teams second and the game third.
The NFL places the emphasis on the teams and what happens??? Every organization makes a ton of money and has a rabid base of fans. Even the Bills and Lions.
Congrats Stern, you've turned the NBA into a reality show. It will be entertaining and the core group will continue to tune in but the Association will never attain the status of NFL or the English Premiere League. Nice.
Now bring on "jj's" 'Melo/CP3 trade! Where do I sign???
My gawd I've been saying this for years.
Stern has been bad for the NBA. They need to boot him out and quickly. Everyone buys in to the "Purple Drank" that Stern knows how to run a successful operation.
Wrong again folks… Stern is destroying this thing which we love. He needs to be fired.
Sure Stern deserves the blame for stars run amuk. He built the league on stars and has to deal with the ramifications. However, statements like "Stern is destroying this thing which we love" are way overboard. He BUILT the thing you love and kept it going strong for over 2 decades. He got the league thru the 90s when the play turned to rugby and causal fans viewed the stars (in a lot of cases rightfully) as thugs.
I agree, he needs to figure something out. I like the parity in the NFL like most of you. However, we shouldn't just dismiss the "superteam" concept as the end of the NBA. MLB has thrived with 2 superteams, a few contenders and a bunch of doormats. Why couldn't the NBA do the same?
FWIW, I am not saying I like it, I'm just suggesting that its not certain armageddon and that Stern deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Yeah! lets be like the MLB!! They're THRIVING!
So with CP3's preferred list coming out…does this put to rest the Bobcats rumors, or is there still hope? Bait and switch maybe?
The trade is not ridiculous if you get the pieces right. CP3 & Okafor for Dampier, DJ, Henderson, a first round pick, and a second round pick. New Orleans isn't going to make the playoffs this year; Chris Paul wants out; N.O. wants to dump the Okafor contract; Without CP3, N.O. wants to rebuild with young talent (DJ & GHen), picks (1st, 2nd), and dumping salary (Dampier) and clearing Okafor and CP3.
If N.O. doesn't make a trade they are a mid-range team with little hope this year; they lose CP3 to free agency in two years; and they have a big Okafor contract and little to build around.
This trade isn't ridiculous. It's a no-brainer for N.O. and would be very good for CLT also.
Disclosure –
That trade is indeed ridiculous, for two reasons:
1.) For NOH, that is way to little to accept in a trade for the best PG in the NBA and an above-average Center in Okafor (even with his huge contract).
2.) NOH has a half-a-dozen offers that are WAY BETTER than the one you propose, from teams like: Dallas, Cleveland & Memphis among others.
Fun fact: on Canadian Google (google.ca) if you type c-h-r-i-s-p-a-u, you get "Chris Paul to Toronto"
Hahaha
haha cardboard gerald goes hard
Man, more and more stories coming out about Chris Paul demanding a trade. All of these reports come from "someone in his circle" or something like that.
Remember when Stephen Jackson openly told the press in NY that he wasn't going to be playing for the Warriors? He just made his intentions known without the behind-the-scenes dance. CP3 should take the reigns on this and just make a statement to force the Hornets' hand.
The Hornets are gonna feel like Julius Hodge getting hit in the crotch by Chris Paul.
although did just hear Chris Brousard on SC mention Charlotte as a suitor for CP3…hope is still alive!
Bobcats do not have enough pieces for Paul. They only have Dampier, DJ, picks, Henderson, and Diaw. Hornets do not need a bunch of players however because already have good young talent with Collison, Thornton, Brackins, Pondexter. NY has best chance of getting him because they can offer alot more than the Cats
actually take that back, Blazers have the most to offer.. their team is full of great young talent
Dampier is the best trade chip in the game, Naz has a $6+M exp contract, Diaw is versatile with a $9M exp contract next season, and DJ and GH can be very valuable young guards. We can take on Okafor's contract and send a 2014 1st too.
NY has way worse trade pieces then Charlotte. Anthony Randolph and Galinari along with the expiring contracts of Eddy Curry and Wilson Chandler won't get you as much as MJ can get
Dampier is the best trade chip in the game, Naz has a $6+M exp contract, Diaw is versatile with a $9M exp contract next season, and DJ and GH can be very valuable young guards. We can take on Okafor's contract and send a 2014 1st too.
NY has way worse trade pieces then Charlotte. Anthony Randolph and Galinari along with the expiring contracts of Eddy Curry and Wilson Chandler won't get you as much as MJ can get.
And what is Portland going to send? Jerryd Bayless and Greg Oden's cell phone pics?
Man, more and more that I see…I start to think more and more that the trade for paul aint happenin’. I want to believe, but having a hard time right now.
Hi. Excellent reading. Looking forward to your next article! :-)