NBA Trade Rumors: The New York Knicks' Possible Path To Chris Paul
Already, Chris Broussard has used his unfathomable power to set the sports media narrative to bump the Orlando Magic ahead of the New York Knicks in the Chris Paul trade rumors.
This, as always, is based on sources that say Paul wants to go to Orlando because he believes it will be a better fit, whatever that means.
In fact it would be impossible to gauge where Paul would find a fit to his liking since that could only be known after he found out the details of a possible trade.
Dismissing the speculation about where Paul prefers and where he would fit, let's look at how it might work.
First, there are some half-truths being spread as if they were common wisdom. I call them half-truths because they are technically true statements, but absent of context.
Half-Truth #1: The New Orleans Hornets do not have to trade Chris Paul.
This is technically true. The Hornets have no contractual obligation to meet a Chris Paul trade demand.
But this is akin to saying I don't have to breathe oxygen or pay my bills.
Life is a cruel thing in that it provides many scenarios where we neither have the inclination nor the obligation to act unless we value quality of life.
If Chris Paul formally demands a trade, New Orleans will have to trade him just as I have to get up and go to work every morning. The alternative to trading Paul this summer, supposing he demands it, is to pay a disgruntled star and have the only story surrounding your team for two years be one of trade rumors.
For all the frenzy of reporting you see so far, it will be nothing compared to the speculation and rumor that will surround the franchise for the rest of Paul's tenure. No stars will want to come because the belief will be that Paul is gone at the end of his contract.
The team will be constantly distracted and likely maligned by all the discussion.
This is like the kid that's forced to eat his veggies. If Chris Paul demands a trade, then what can they do but find the best trade they can find?
Half-Truth #2: New Orleans doesn't have to trade Paul to his preferred team.
This half-truth seems simple enough. The Hornets simply have to find a willing partner for any trade. Paul has no say in the matter.
But that isn't the whole story. A team trading for Chris Paul will no doubt be required to take on the onerous Emeka Okafor contract and possibly James Posey as well. And don't forget that any team trading for Paul will also have to give up some good prospects as part of the bargain as well.
So will a team taking on bad contracts and giving up good talent really go through with the deal if Paul states publicly that he does not want to play for them?
Remember, Chris Paul has two years left on his contract, at which time he will be in the driver's seat as to where he wants to play.
That also means any team trading for him will not do so unless they have assurance that Paul will sign an extension with them. They might even request the "extend and sign," which is an available option.
So, do you think a team wanting to trade for Paul and make him their franchise player will do so if he states he doesn't want to play for them and will likely be gone in two years?
Highly unlikely.
No team will play ball with New Orleans unless Paul expresses support of the deal, and that makes Paul's wish list very important.
And who is on this list? Reports say Orlando and New York are his favored destinations.
What can New York provide?
First off, New York's biggest obstacle is Posey. They can absorb Okafor by giving Eddy Curry to New Orleans. This of course, would take the Knicks out of the Melo hunt, which is supposedly a part of Paul's fantasy.
Orlando can take both Posey and Okafor if the Hornets want Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson with some role players like Brandon Bass, Mickael Pietrus, and Marcin Gortat.
What New York can't offer in Posey, they can offer in rebuilding.
Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson aren't likely to go quietly into that sweet night. New Orleans would likely be getting disgruntled players. Also, most of the other players Orlando can offer have multiple years on their contracts. That means New Orleans will be making investments in of some of these players.
New York might be the only team that can offer New Orleans the chance at a completely fresh start. With new owners likely, a new GM, and the loss of their franchise player, New Orleans might be looking to rebuild. New York can offer a slew of young guys all with only one year on their contract.
According to the ESPN NBA Trade Machine , this works.
The Hornets get Curry (cap space cleared), Ronny Turiaf, Gallo, Kelenna Azubuike, and Toney Douglas.
Now Curry is just for the cap space. Turiaf, Gallo, Azubuike, and Douglas are all young guys in a contract year. They haven't played on winners so they won't be disgruntled to arrive in New Orleans. They all want nice new contracts next summer so they won't tank.
And if you include Peja's contract coming up and Okafor's contract being gone, New Orleans would enter the summer of 2011 with all the cap space in the world to make moves.
That is New York's path to Chris Paul. With an organization changing from top to bottom, only New York offers them a trade full of youth and expiring contracts.
No drama. No disgruntled stars. No long term investment. New York can offer a completely fresh start to New Orleans.
And in return, New York would get the best point guard on the team since Clyde left with his two rings...
