Keep Chris Paul, Trade Darren Collison? Alternatives for New Orleans

After Chris Paul released a statement declaring the teams he would like to be traded to, the basketball world continued onward in chaos, proposing scenarios where Paul would land in New York, Orlando, or Dallas. 

I'm here to say that we've been looking at this situation the wrong way. 

Chris Paul wants to win. He wants out of New Orleans because he feels that his best chance to win titles lies elsewhere. However, if Paul leaves New Orleans, he will be looked upon as a traitor; another LeBron James. Yes, New Orleans would have Darren Collison and whatever benefits the CP3 trade would reap, but it wouldn't be the same.

The best interest of both Paul, the NBA, and the Hornets is to keep Paul in New Orleans. 

How does New Orleans make Paul happy, but keep him in town?

Trade Collison.

The 6-foot lightning bug played admirably in Paul's absence, and has a very promising future in the NBA. He averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists per game, and those numbers should rise with more playing time. He is two years younger than Paul, and many NBA teams would love to have him.

After looking at needs and trade chips, Memphis and Indiana became the best trade partners for New Orleans.

First, we'll look at Memphis, who have seemingly given up on Mike Conley. With Hasheem Thabeet waiting in the wings, time is running out to move Marc Gasol. Enter New Orleans, who would pair up Collison with Emeka Okafor, to clear cap space and to give Memphis a very nice backup power forward. 

In return, New Orleans would get Gasol and Sam Young. Young would team up with Quincy Pondexter to give New Orleans two athletic scorers off the bench that can play either the two, or the three. 

Paul would finally get a big man he can trust, and Memphis benefits by starting Thabeet, their future at center, and getting a point guard that can lead them into the playoffs.

This scenario sounds so sweet for both teams, but I have one more trick up my sleeve, and somehow, some way, it lies in Indiana.

In the 2010 draft, Larry Bird selected Paul George, a 6'8" swingman with incredible athleticism and upside; essentially the next Danny Granger. Granger is already 27, and at the rate the Pacers are rebuilding, he doesn't seem to fit into their long term plans. So why not trade the New Orleans native back home?

With Troy Murphy platooning with both Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough at the four and the five, Indiana could use some stability with a defensive stopper like Okafor. Entering Okafor to share minutes with Hibbert would allow Murphy and Hansbrough to be more comfortable at the four, and they would always remain very fresh. 

So the trade remains the same on the New Orleans side, offering up Collison and Okafor. Indiana would simply give Granger and get their point guard in Collison. From a talent standpoint, New Orleans gets the better end with Granger, but Indiana fills a need and they pretty much put their future on the floor.

Either way New Orleans would go, they would still need to sign a backup point guard.  Here, I do not care where they go, as they could place offers to Javaris Crittenton, Will Bynum, Shannon Brown, my favorite, Patty Mills, or even Allen Iverson for that matter.  I would also suggest they resign free agent center Aaron Gray. But at the end of the day, they will have shed the salary of Okafor, kept Paul, and made him happy with a player he could make a playoff run with.

Lets look at how New Orleans' roster would shake out.

New Orleans, post trade with Memphis

PG: Chris Paul, (insert free agent point guard)

SG: Marcus Thornton, Sam Young

SF: Peja Stojakovic, Quincy Pondexter, Julian Wright, James Posey

PF: David West, Darius Songalia, Craig Brackins

C: Marc Gasol, Aaron Gray

New Orleans, post trade with Indiana

PG: Chris Paul, (insert free agent point guard)

SG: Marcus Thornton, Quincy Pondexter

SF: Danny Granger, Peja Stojakovic, Julian Wright, James Posey

PF: David West, Darius Songalia

C: Aaron Gray, Craig Brackins

The Memphis trade would give New Orleans their big man and a scorer off the bench, but the Indiana trade would give Paul the elusive superstar he's been wanting. Either one would surely make a playoff bid very probable, even with Gray starting at the five.  After all, when the other starting four are Paul, Granger, Thornton, and West, his only job would be to grab some rebounds for them.

I believe both trades are very reasonable when you think about what each team's immediate and future outlook is, the salary cap, and the talent in the deal...

So which team would you rather have? The New Orleans team with depth and Gasol? Or the New Orleans team with Granger alongside Paul that is left with Gray at the five? 

Either one would work with me, but with hometown boy Granger teaming up with Paul and West, I believe New Orleans would have the talent necessary to take down Miami.

In the end, the NBA needs Paul in New Orleans, but New Orleans needs to do something to keep him there. And that means trading Darren Collison.