NBA Rumors: Why Chris Paul Will Be Next Carmelo Anthony of Negotiating

You can make the case that big-market teams will always have the advantage when it comes to any sports best players.

When it comes to negotiating new contracts, the small-market team just can't compete, especially in the NBA. There are exceptions of course, but in the new age where loaded teams will become the norm instead of the exception, the players hold all of the cards.

If a small-market team is privileged enough to currently have one of the games top stars, such as New Orleans with Chris Paul, that small-market team can't compete for very long.

Eventually, the player will force his way out of town.

Paul wants to play in New York, and he eventually will. He will do it by negotiating his way there. Current Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony set the precedence when he negotiated his way out of Denver last season. Now Paul just has to do the same thing.

There's not too much that can be done about it. Paul would be a free agent in 2012 and has earned the right to play where he sees fit. There's nothing wrong with that.

But similar to Anthony, he can force his current club's hand.

There used to be a day where a team out of contention would deal its upcoming free agents for the best deal on the table. Nowadays, though, they really only have the option of dealing with the one team that star would like to be dealt to.

Similar to Anthony, all Paul has to do is to refuse to sign an extension with any team other than the Knicks and the Hornets can't deal him anywhere else. No other team would be foolish enough to part with enough assets to acquire Paul without him signing an extension. Therefore, the Hornets will have to likely except the Knicks' best offer in a sign-and-trade next season or watch their star walk for nothing.

Anthony showed Paul how it's done. All Paul has to do is the same thing, and he should be in a Knicks uniform by next season.

He holds all the cards in any negotiations. That's great for Knicks fans, but overall, it's probably bad for the rest of the NBA.

In Anthony forcing his way out of Denver, at least the Nuggets got a decent return for him.

In Paul's case, the return the Hornets get won't be nearly as good.