NBA Trade Rumors: Chris Paul to Knicks Depends on Sacrifices Willing to Be Made

If the long awaited Chris Paul to the New York Knicks deal is to finally come to fruition, it will take some much needed sacrifices.

Sacrifices from both sides.

First looking at Paul, it looks more and more likely that to play for the Knicks, he will have to sacrifice money, almost $40 million to be exact under the new CBA. Is anyone ready to leave $40 million sitting on the table?

If traded, Paul can sign a maximum four-year, $58 million extension. Under his Bird rights, he can sign a five-year, $99 million dollar extension.

Would Paul really be willing to sacrifice over $40 million to join the Knicks? He might not have to.

An SI.com report offers up a situation in which Paul could be dealt to Knicks without signing an extension. His Bird-rights would come with him and then he could simply sign with New York as a free agent, cashing in on the five-year, $100 million deal.

Of course, then the Knicks would have to sacrifice having Paul for a season without a long-term deal. While it's all been assumed that Paul would sign with the Knicks anyway, handshake agreements have gone bad in the past.

Finally, the New Orleans Hornets would have to make the biggest sacrifice.

Would they be willing to not take the maximum amount they could receive in another offer just to make Paul happy and deal him to New York?  Would they be willing just to make a deal just to avoid the big distraction that this is bound to become?

It's doubtful. That's a lot of sacrificing for one to ask. Also remember that the NBA is currently acting as the de facto owner of the Hornets. While it would want enough value to rebuild the franchise, it also doesn't likely want to have to deal with the PR mess of dealing Paul for little to no value.

We will eventually see how this plays out, but for Paul to ultimately land in New York, someone is going to have to sacrifice something.