I find this whole CP3 thing fascinating. If only our owner didn't mess up the Melodrama last season, we might have enough (Gallo or Moz) to entice NO to send Chris Paul our way.
RED ROVER RED ROVER... Mr. Demps please send Paul over!
On one hand, I feel strongly that Stern wants to use Paul as the test case, to prove to the hardline small market owners that the era of players' demands is over. Trading Paul to a small market team and daring CP3 to leave 20 mil on the table to walk as a free agent next July.
On the other hand though, I feel that this isn't necessary b/c sign-n-trades & stuff is only allowed after this season and once more after the next. So, the point is mute. On top of that, Stern would be content knowing a big market (NY) becomes an elite team, and the NBA benefits b/c now there's 2 super powers in the Eastern Conference that can battle one another (MIA-NY).
ALSO, we have a former Knicks scout, with obvious ties to I-Thomas & Dolan. How is that relationship? How close? Being on the inside, does he value players like Fields & Douglas, more so than somebody on the outside?
IS it enough for Isiah to pick up the phone and tell his former protoge that Jerom Jordan, Tony Douglas, Landry Fields & C-Billups expiring contract (which could be flipped for something), plus a 2016 first round pick, and a 2nd rounder or two... This is good enough (compared to what else they can get from a team willing to rent Paul).
I honestly feel these are the 2 biggest factors that might prevent Paul from coming to NY:
1) Chris Paul has all the leverage here. Just like Anthony in DEN. Walsh played it perfectly, but then Dolan gave up the farm as the deadline neared, fearng the worst... Still, all Paul has to do is say "NO" to any & every team that makes an offer contigent on CP3 signing a long term extension. As long as Paul keeps saying no, the teams like GSW, LAC and what not will refuse to fork over legit talent for CP3's services. Without a long term commitment from Paul, no team is going to offer a package that will bow away what NY can offer (& given Demps has ties to NY, you would hope if all things are equal he'll look to reward his former employer).
2. Some team may swoop in and rent Paul. Maybe they just want to make a run at a title this year, or maybe they fell a gamble is worth it b/c they feel Paul might resign. If BOS deals Rondo we have no shot. LAKERS are a threat, but I'm not sure Demps wants to help out LAK, & I've even heard NO is not enamroed with LAK's bigs. Still, we have to assume that Bynum is more than what we have. DAL would rent Paul, but I can't see their package being better than ours. What's left? OKC going crazy & offering Westbrook? They're small market, they cannot afford that. SA just dealt Hill, so what could they offer? HOU? Imagine if Jordan Hill did it (LOL).
If you start running down the team, understanding that Paul plays his leverage, what package could be offered that dwarfs NY's? BOS & LAK have potential to go for it, but would they part w/ players like Rondo or Bynum? Other than that, what's left?
Let's also consider the difference here, that wasn't the case with DEN, CLE, TOR. This isn't personal. No owner is being offended that their golden goose, long time money maker, is abandoning them, leaving them naked at the altar. The NBA owns NO, and the GM just arrived. This is pure business, so there will be no going out of the way to stick it to paul, preventing him from getting what he wants.
I go back and forth. I was hopeful, than I was adamant we had no shot, but now I'm starting to believe.
Finally, if the NBA truly wants this out of the way by the time the season starts, to move beyond the constant reminder of what the landscape was like the last 2 years (Lebron & Carmelo), then time is on our side. Bluffs can only go so long. If other teams hesitate, then the door opens wide for us.
Given months, maybe LAC decide trading MIN's 1st rounder plus Jordan or Gordon is worth the risk, to rent Paul. Hope for the best. They've been bad for so long, don't they have to take a risk. BUt if they only have days, or a wekk or two, maybe they balk.
Who knows. I don't think it goes down this week, but I could see something happening within 2 weeks.
Again, it all depends on PAUL saying NO & for other teams to play it cheap when it comes to renting CP3.
Suddenly, Jerome Jordan - Tony Douglas - Landry Fields plus Billups doesn;t look as bad.
Knicks end up with:
Paul (Shumpert)
Hill (Rautins)
Anthony (Shawne Williams)
Amar'e (Jeffries, Shelden Williams)
Turiaf (Ajinca, Joorts)
Not the best bench... but that starting 5 is NASTY.