Knicks, Celtics, Clippers Already Discussing CP3 Trade

A scenario similar to the speculation that swirled after LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony plotted their exit strategies to play for their desired teams appears to playing out for Hornets point guard Chris Paul.

John McCusker / The Times Picayune

New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul has been the subject of trade rumors. Some speculate that Paul would like to become part of a superteam featuring players such as Carmelo Anthony, right.
Rumors are kicking up again about Paul?s desire to play for the New York Knicks. And interest is peaking among teams willing to make a deal to acquire Paul in a trade.

The Hornets still aim to sign Paul to a long-term extension but have had trade discussions with several teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, sources said.

But Paul has stayed out of the fray, at least publicly.
?I try not to pay attention to all of that different type of stuff,? Paul told reporters Tuesday in New York during a charity event. ?My heart is in New Orleans.?

Though he can opt out of his current deal after this season, leaving New Orleans won?t be as easy for Paul as it was for James to leave Cleveland for Miami or for Anthony to bolt midseason from Denver for the bright lights of New York.

League owners won their fight for competitive balance during the 149-day lockout, and Paul is the first elite player likely to feel its impact.
The new labor deal makes it harder for elite players to join forces to create superteams like the Miami Heat?s trio of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and James, who lost to the Dallas Mavericks in last season?s Finals.

With new rules in place, Paul can?t gain the same big-money contract options that his buddies, James and Anthony, received last season. As a result of the new collective bargaining agreement, star players must accept less money and shorter contracts if they want to change teams.



If Paul goes the route of Anthony and forces an extend-and-trade deal, he would be permitted to sign only a one-year extension as opposed to the three-year, $65 million extension Anthony received.

Even if Paul decides to opt out of his contract with the Hornets after this season and explore free agency this summer, he would stand to lose up to $26 million if he turned down the Hornets? maximum five-year, $100 million offer. The most Paul could earn from another team is a four-year, $74 million contract.
Fearing they would lose James without getting compensation, the Cavaliers agreed to a sign-and-trade last summer with the Heat, which paved the way for James? six-year, $110 million contract. Under the new agreement, that is no longer possible.

If Paul intends to fulfill his playful toast at Anthony?s wedding last summer promising to create his own Big Three in New York involving him, Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, he would have to take a pay cut.
If Paul opts out and goes to the Knicks, instead of earning the $17.7 million left on his deal for the final year, he would earn $4 million less in his first year in New York than if he remains in New Orleans.

Paul could sign a two-year extension to remain with the Hornets, but he would not be able to force a trade. Under the new agreement, which is expected to be ratified soon, the Hornets would be prohibited from trading him for six months. If the Hornets traded Paul before agreeing to an extension, he would have to wait six months to sign one with his new team.

Hornets officials said General Manager Dell Demps was unavailable for comment Wednesday, the first day the league permitted teams to speak to the news media since the lockout ended.

Hornets players can begin using the Alario Center today, and Paul is expected to participate in workouts. With free agency and training camp starting Dec. 9, the Hornets have only four other players under contract: guard Jarrett Jack, forwards Trevor Ariza and Quincy Pondexter, and center Emeka Okafor.

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Let's compare potential trade scenarios for the 3 teams mentioned [out of the apparent several]

Knicks:



Celtics:



Clippers:



Just to get an idea of what we're up against prior to adding any picks we don't have.

out of those trades i think the knicks package is the best and the celtics the worst. include the fact that paul is not interested in signing with the C's and has started that he'd prefer t be a knick and i'm fairly confident he'll end up here.

Hornets find Knicks? trade bait a-Paul-ing

Chris Paul doesn?t want to deal with Boston, but the Hornets may not want to deal with the Knicks either.

According to a person familiar with New Orleans? thinking, the Hornets don?t view the current Knicks roster as a place that has enough assets to pry Paul in an extend-and-trade.

?I?m told they really don?t want to deal with the Knicks like that,?? the source said.

The only hope for the Knicks is if Paul forces New Orleans? hand, but CP3 may well be intent on getting to 2012 free agency when the Knicks have enough cap room to entice him, though not for the maximum he can make by staying in the Big Easy.

Yesterday, ESPN.com said Boston?s interest in Paul in a package for Rajon Rondo is a moot point because Paul will not do an extend-and-trade with the Celtics. Boston would not do the deal for Paul for a rental, even though this might be its last window of opportunity to compete for a title. Apparently, Paul realizes the Celtics are close to a rebuilding phase after this season and doesn?t want to commit long-term.

The extend-and-trades in the new CBA is also not as appealing because it calls for only a three-year extension, not a four-year extension. Paul can sign for four years in the summer and, if the Hornets and Knicks can work out a sign-and-trade in July, five years.

The Knicks? greatest fear is if Paul gets traded before free agency to a club he may have interest in such as the Lakers, who reportedly may make an offer this season.

Paul claimed in Brooklyn Tuesday his ?heart is in New Orleans?? but he?s just making sure he is not booed this season like Carmelo Anthony was booed last year in Denver.

The Knicks? young pawns for a Hornets trade are slim because they were all given to the Nuggets and ?Wolves in the Melo blockbuster when youngsters Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Randolph, two first-rounders and two second-rounders were shipped. A package of Iman Shumpert, Chauncey Billups, Jerome Jordan and a second-rounder probably doesn?t quite cut it.

* Knicks players are allowed to report today to their Westchester facility but not to work out with coaches in the gym. Not a lot of players are yet in town, though it figures Toney Douglas, the Knicks? hardest worker, could show.

Douglas is coming off major shoulder surgery and there?s been rumblings his rehab was slower than expected.

When The Post asked him two weeks ago, Douglas said, ?Still in the process.?? Douglas repaired his torn labrum during surgery May 4 and the Knicks said it would take four months to heal.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports...

Why cant the knicks simply sign 3 decent players from the free agency pool and trade them to the hornets for paul? I dont like the idea of giving up every man on our roster to acquire another top rated player.

The biggest threat to the Knicks signing CP3 are the LA Clippers. The Clippers have what is best to offer Dwight and if this were to happen, they can also go after CP3. This is one of a couple of things that might happen, as for now we play with who we get. This topic is not going to go away and many will get annoyed, but its news.

Here is to the many members who will lose it talking about Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.:boohoo: