This would suck: I don't care about the Jefferson thing so much - he's looking more and more like Bad Zach - but the Chris Paul thing would be nasty. But not to fear, New Orleans won't trade Chris Paul...
All I'm saying is that Paul is in a Blazers uniform before we hire a GM if the Blazers offer Batum and either Roy or Aldridge and take back shitty contracts.
Did I read that correctly? Batum AND Roy or Aldridge? I'm not sure we'd give up Roy and anyone else of value to bring back CP.
I think it would have to be Roy, I doubt they want LMA. I think I might do that deal. It would be tough and we basically hitch everything to Oden.
This is the thinking of the last regime, and it cost us all-star players because KP didn't want to give up fair talent. Paul, Aldridge, Oden is better than Roy, Aldridge, Oden. Batum is a nice player, but he can be replaced.
The Hornets just went out and signed Luther Head to a deal Doesn't exactly strike me as a team in slash and burn mode. Who knows, maybe if things get really bad in the next year and two things converge -- 1. Chris Paul demanding a trade and 2. Shinn being unable to sell the team -- then I can see him becoming available, but in the short run it just isn't going to happen IMO.
Why would the Hornets want a max-contract, or near max-contract, in return for Paul, who is actually owed less money than either LA or Roy? Also, Paul already said he wouldn't want to go to Portland if Roy and Aldridge weren't here, didn't he? How does trading places with Brandon Roy, and losing a great SF prospect at the same time, actually improve Paul's chances of winning a title?
Really? You get from signing an extremely small contract the idea that the Hornets are "back in business"? Not me. They have to fill the roster with players. It is required in the CBA. Spending double the absolute minimum they could to get a name player does not strike me as indicative of anything but roster filling. When they go out and drop $5mil per for multiple years on a player, give me a shout out.
Not "back in business", but not looking to dump Paul (yet). So, yeah I do read it that way. If the Hornets were getting ready to ship Paul out because they can't afford to keep him and they are already right up against the tax line then why take on additional salary ... especially a bit player like Luther Head.
I think CP3 would bolt after 2 years in Portland if we were not contending. And I think we would need Roy for that to happen. So I would not include BRoy in any trade for Paul. Not for just 2 years.
I think the previous regime might have missed out trading guys at peak value, but what all-stars did we whiff on? I heard rumors on Gerald Wallace, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson...eh... I like the Paul idea for Dallas. It keeps them relevant for the next 5 years.
Why would Dampier be any more appealing than some of our expiring contracts? Dallas has like zero youth to offer up as well.
I read that Dampier's contract was non-guaranteed, though I don't know if that is still true. I thought options had to be picked up by now.
No options, just unguaranteed in the last year after certain provisions weren't met. http://shamsports.com/content/pages/data/salaries/mavericks.jsp (hover your mouse pointer over his name to get the full scoop). So in reality he's ten times better than an expiring contract because a team can cut him at any time and not only not have to pay him, but they get to remove him from their cap immediately.
