No "Decision" from Paul... For Now
Let me establish a few things with my first story for thebleacherreport. 1) I am a Chris Paul fan. He is clearly one of the Top 3 PG's in the NBA (Add in Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo, for his Swiss-Army knife approach to beating teams). 2) I objectively believe that CP3 is the closest thing the league has seen as a comp to Isiah Lord Thomas (more on him in another story). 3) There is not a PG so instrumental to the success of his team as it is with Paul (maybe D-Will, but Sloan can win with everyone).
Having established that, I feel that his "return" to NOLA without any outrageous trade demands is the absolute smartest thing that could have come from this ill conceived power move, courtesy of World Wide Wes, Leon Rose, and whomever else saddled up to CP3 and suggested he flex his clout into a trade outta the Bayou.
The Hornets are clearly not going back to the upper reaches of the Western Conference as presently constructed, no debate about that. There are some nice pieces, ( i.e. David West, Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison), but overall, there is too little firepower, too much good money thrown after bad, too many bad contracts in place for that to be a realistic possibility, short of a miraculous run. However this is not the NCAAs, where a hot team, led by a great senior, makes a memorable March dash to the Final 4!
In that, CP3 is wise, from a business approach, to push for an exit from Shinn and Co. Unfortunately, the Hornets have the 2nd worst owner in the NBA (D. Sterling, you still have a death grip on that title!) But, whereas Bron-Bron and Christopher Bosh could go to form the Big 3 with D. Wade as free agents, CP3 has no leverage! That can be correctly attributed to the extension Paul signed after the fabulous run in Spring 2008. He signed away the only possible leverage he could have held with that extension.
The two remaining years means that he can only make nice with Hornets management, and quietly advise that after Monday's meeting, he will not resign in 2012, and that they would be wise to try and quickly make a deal happen. I have no proof, but I believe that is how that meeting went.
He cannot tout the virtues of teams like the Knicks, Lakers, etc. without undercutting his team's ability to make a deal happen. We can only hope and pray that LRMR Management has not advised him to go all T.O. on the Hornets, he cannot come out of that with his good name intact! Hey Terrell, how has that panned out for your recognition as a Top 20 receiver of all time?
Surely, Wes and crew have learned from the LeBron LeBacklash of "The Bad Decision," and have advised CP3 to go the path of least resistance. That is how NBA stars get moved to a better destination, when they have 2 full seasons to go on the books!
Chris, you are my man, 50 Grand. Don't lose your standing as one of the good guys of sports with anymore diva-like public negotiations. Let the negotiations take place behind closed doors. Let Dell Demps earn his money and forge his rep by getting the best deal he can, if you really want to leave the French Quarter. The grass may not be greener in LA (Clippers or Lakers), NY (Knicks) or the Magic Kingdom.
Or you can always ask Drew Brees what it was like to lead the only professional city you have known to a World championship.
The Decision is yours.
Thanks, B/R. I'm out.
R.S. Settles
