NBA Trade Rumors: Chris Paul Seeks to Join Carmelo, Stoudemire with NY Knicks

Point guard Chris Paul has requested a trade to join the New York Knicks.

According to a report from Yahoo! Sports, Paul's agent has told the Hornets that his client is not willing to sign a long-term extension in New Orleans with the Hornets and instead would like a trade to New York.

This has been something that many have known was coming for a long time, and now the situation is finally coming to fruition.

Ever since Paul attended Anthony's wedding during the summer of 2010 and reportedly toasted to his future with the Knicks alongside Anthony and Stoudemire, speculation has run wild that he would ultimately join the team.

Now, it's more than just speculation: There's no question that Paul's end game is to wind up with the Knicks.

The team doesn't have the assets to facilitate a two-team deal.

However, the Hornets would be foolish to let Paul simply walk out the door for nothing in return at the end of the season, so there's every reason to believe it's in the team's best interest to explore the parameters for a deal as soon as possible.

A "big three" of Paul, Stoudemire and Anthony would be absolutely devastating for opponents to attempt to line up against going forward, and games between New York and Miami would be the definition of must-see TV.

While it won't be reminiscent of the rivalry between the Heat and Knicks of the mid-90s, it would give every reason for any fan of basketball to watch the game.

More importantly for the Knicks, it would complete the vision that the club has been trying to make a reality for some time now, and the team would finally have three legitimate superstars to play underneath the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

With Paul, Anthony and Stoudemire playing together, the Knicks would become yearly favorites to contend for an NBA title.

While that certainly doesn't guarantee the group anything (especially in an improving Eastern Conference), it takes the team one giant step closer than previously before.

It will definitely be a very interesting story to monitor as the season is set to get underway on Christmas Day, and Paul will no longer be able to avoid the question that everyone has been asking.

On November 30, Paul said that his "heart was in New Orleans."

One day can change a lot for some people.