NBA Rumors: Chris Paul Not Reporting to Hornets Camp Will Cause a Rift

Chris Paul, irate over the notion that his trade to the Lakers has been blocked has determined he will not attend the Hornets training camp. Rachel Nichols tweets, "ESPN's Stan Verrett reporting Chris Paul will not show at Hornet's camp Friday."

While Paul has engendered a near-universal sympathy in his plight, it would be interesting to see how much that would be tested were he to not show up for camp. 

Paul is, after all, still under contract with the New Orleans Hornets. Essentially by not showing up to camp, he is punishing the team that did everything under its power to trade him. 

So, provided he holds out, what can the NBA do and what would it do? Knowing David Stern and his ego, it's not likely he would capitulate to a player and say, "Sorry Mr. Paul, let me undo that trade block."

It's far more likely that he would first fine, then suspend Paul for every day he misses. 

Paul is better off showing up to camp and giving it everything, the way he has always done. Media sympathy can be a short-lived thing, and holding out and punishing his teammates isn't likely to keep endearing it. 

To reference another sport, football is a good example of a reason why. Three players were in what you can call "bad contracts" this year: Chris Johnson, Matt Forte and DeSean Jackson. One held out for a better contract and then played badly. One played halfheartedly. The third, Forte, gave his full effort. 

Of the three, Forte, far and away got the most media support. 

Right now Paul has the media on his side, and if he's going to get this trade to go through, it's going to be by public pressure. The way to do that is to go to work and do his job, not hold out and pout.