NBA Trade Rumors: No Changes in Unstable Chris Paul Trade Climate

The road is still very much clear in the Chris Paul situation. It's rocky and filled with pratfalls, but we all know where it's headed. 

CP3 will not be a New Orleans Hornets star for long. That's the assumption that we are all working under, and it's a well-warranted one at that. The momentum of the past couple weeks signals that the end is near for Paul in the Big Easy. 

I now have this juicy piece of news to report: nothing much has changed. The situation is still very much volatile and could explode at any moment. The notion is that the only viable conclusion is Paul leaves, and does so to the Big Apple. 

David Aldridge of NBA.com reports the Hornets are hopeful, but not stupid. They know that their situation is dire in regards to holding onto Chris Paul:

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While the Hornets are hopeful they can somehow convince Paul to stay...they know that Paul wants out. And they are willing to help facilitate that, as long as there's a return that makes them whole as a franchise and able to go forward in New Orleans when the team is eventually sold.

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They are well aware that their finances, as well as the pieces they have on this current roster, give them chances to keep Paul that remain between slim and none. 

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports the following: 

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[GM Dell] Demps made the call on Wednesday to Paul's agent, and there was no surprise: He was told that Paul wouldn't be signing a new contract with the Hornets, that New York was his preferred destination and that ultimately a trade benefited everyone.

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And so the status quo gets far more mundane as Paul digs in his heels with demands to float off to New York. The more adamant that he becomes about the Knicks being his team, the more inclined I am to believe the Hornets will take whatever New York has to give. 

New York doesn't have the sexiest of offers, but the next team will want assurances that Paul is going to stick around. It is becoming far more clear that will only happen if he is sent off to New York. 

So what do we know? Paul wants out, the Hornets want at least something for their trouble, and it all has to happen for both sides to be happy. 

But we already knew all that. I smell a trade coming.