NBA Trade Rumors: Why New Orleans Hornets Must Move Chris Paul

Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets has the ability to walk as a free agent after the shortened 2011-12 NBA season. Right now his future is unclear.  

Losing the best point guard in the league for nothing would be an absolute shame. New Orleans cannot allow Paul to walk free after this season. They must swallow their pride and deal him before the trade deadline.

Paul is the best pure point guard in the NBA. He can do it all. He led the Hornets in points (22), rebounds (seven), assists (12) and steals (two) per game in the 2011 postseason. He’s that valuable of a piece.

He’s not going to want to return to New Orleans. It would be shocking if he did. 

Paul wants to play with the big guns. He wants to be paired with superstars in hopes of winning a title. That’s what the NBA is all about these days. Carmelo Anthony joined forces with Amar'e Stoudemire, LeBron James joined with Dwyane Wade, and so on and so forth.   

Do you honestly believe that Paul thinks he has a legitimate shot at winning a title in New Orleans? He doesn’t have a chance in the immediate future, and that’s what Paul has to consider.

Trevor Ariza isn’t a big enough scoring threat to help Paul. David West is a free agent. The Hornets aren’t the right team for Paul in the future.

New Orleans needs to understand this, and remember what happened with James and what will possibly happen with Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. They need to make the right decision for the future. They can’t allow their superstars to walk for virtually nothing.

If they keep Paul and fail to sign him, then New Orleans will be set back for several more years than they would if they acquired young talent. Look at Cleveland last year without James—they finished with the second-worst record (19-63) in the league. That’s how much one player means to a team.

It won’t be the most popular decision, but it has to be done. New Orleans can’t put their eggs all in one basket. They need to trade him and get young talent plus future first-round picks.

If a few talented players and a couple of first-round draft choices don’t get brought up in trade discussions, then the Hornets will need to go a different route. They need to exercise all options at this point. I have no doubt that they will.

New Orleans needs to look at the risk-reward factor. If there is one hint that he won’t agree to stay, then they have to cut ties.

The Hornets must take the best deal on the table before the trade deadline ends. It would be the best decision.