NBA Trade Rumors: Why Requesting a Trade to Knicks Is Foolish of Chris Paul

With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, there is a lot of uncertainty with regards to the future of point guard Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets. In fact, reports say that Paul has requested a trade to the New York Knicks, but I think that is ill-advised.

It has been speculated for quite some time now that Paul had interest in the Knicks due to his relationships with forward Carmelo Anthony and former Knicks executive Isaiah Thomas. According to Yahoo! Sports, Paul's representatives have already asked the Hornets front office to make a deal happen.

While I do think that Paul will ultimately be an excellent fit with the Knicks along with Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, a trade simply isn't the way to go about it. Provided Paul doesn't strike a deal with New Orleans, he will be able to sign with whichever team he desires during the offseason.

The fact of the matter is that the Knicks essentially exhausted all of their assets in trading for Anthony last season. Not only will they be unable to trade first-round picks due to the rule that teams cannot deal first rounders in consecutive years, they don't really have quality pieces to move either.

If New York were to trade for Paul, it would likely have to give up the expiring contract of Chauncey Billups, plus young role players like Landry Fields and Toney Douglas. Acquiring Paul will come at a price, but the Knicks would be best off waiting until the offseason so the price would merely be financial.

Provided the Knicks gave up Fields and Douglas for Paul, their team would consist of three superstars and a bunch of spare parts. While those three superstars will be enough to win games, they likely won't be enough to take the Knicks to the promised land.

Paul has to realize that what is best for the Knicks and for his future is to play out the season with the Hornets and then simply sign with New York as a free agent. It is possible that Paul does realize that, however, as The New Orleans Times Picayune is reporting that Paul may not have, in fact, requested a trade.

If Paul truly wants to play for the Knicks, there is nobody and nothing that can stop him. Unless he simply can't stand to be a Hornet for another second, his best bet is to be patient. It may be difficult for Paul to look at the big picture at this point, but waiting will be better for him in the long run.

There is a distinct possibility that the Hornets will trade Paul elsewhere, but that shouldn't affect his intentions to be a Knick. Some other team may believe that it can convince Paul to sign, but all of the power is ultimately in his own hands.

When it comes down to it, demanding a trade to the Knicks is a selfish move by Paul if it has any credence. If he has any regard for the situation he would enter with the Knicks, he won't force them to give up valuable pieces in a trade.