Decent centers don't put up 23 PER's and lead the league in rebound and block %. Oden is a beast when healthy so it's easy to see why we are hesitant to give him up.
Why would a Laker fan want us to get rid of Oden unless you're scared of him? That's a rhetorical question by the way.
Shaq was putting up PERs of 26.4 to 28.6 when he was 21-23 years old. His career PER average is still over 26. Oden had a nice 21 game run last year when he was able to stay out of foul trouble, but comparing what Oden has done in the NBA to what Shaq was doing at the same time is a disservice to Oden and unfair to him.
Orlando apparently less enthusiastic about a deal for Paul with Okafor. Van Gundy calling it a Chris Paul rumor, and not an Orlando one.
All talk IMO. I do believe they would want to flip Okafor to a third team (but who the hell wants him if Paul is not coming back to them as well?), but if they needed to, they would take Okafor to get Paul. I am pretty sure Paul Allen would take Okafor with Paul, so that gives helps us.
The most dynamic court duo for Chris Paul would be Dwight Howard. They would elevate each others game and there would be no duplication. Orlando also has lots of other pieces to work with in trying to give up value to NO and still have a decent roster left. Orlando also has owners that are willing to spend money. Unfortunately, they already have committed to big salaries and are pretty close to their pain threshold salary-wise. For them to take on Okafor would require some very creative deal making as they would need to shed salary in other ways.
It would be interesting. I can think of only two times when the league's arguable best point guard and best center were on the same team: Cousy and Russell (six titles) and Magic and Kareem (five titles). Too small a sample to proclaim absolute success, especially given the supporting casts, but certainly not a bad idea to shoot for. Now if Oden would only live up to that potential...
I'm really not sure if Chris Paul and Dwight Howard is enough to get over the hump. I think there is a better roster in place here, and the addition of Paul would definitely put us in contention. I wish we knew more about Oden's health. Is he coming along as planned? If it takes Oden to get Chris Paul, I don't think I want to pass on another superstar for Oden's potential.
The real question is would you trade Oden and Batum for CP3. I think most of the forum would trade Oden + filler for CP3 or Batum + filler or even LMA + Batum + filler for CP3 or even Roy + filler. The deal breaker for me is Oden + Batum for CP3.
I think Camby/Aldridge/Okafor would be more than adequate on the inside, at least in terms of looking historically at PERs and Drtg for front-line champions. I think that team at least makes the WCF one of the next two years with Chris Paul and Brandon Roy in the backcourt.
It might make the WCF, but it wouldn't beat the Lakers. That team wouldn't beat Miami either. Not enough matchup advantages.
The meeting has started, FWIW http://twitter.com/STEIN_LINE_HQ Chris Paul update: Meeting began in New Orleans around 11 ET and approaching hour and a half in length, w/CP3 joined by new agent Leon Rose Hornets repped at Chris Paul sitdown by new GM Dell Demps, new coach Monty Williams and team president Hugh Weber
“The meeting went well. It was great to get an opportunity to sit down with Coach Williams, President Weber and our new General Manager Dell Demps. I expressed my desire to win and I like what they said about the direction that they want to take the team. I have been a Hornet my entire career and I hope to represent the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana for many years to come.” http://twitter.com/Oneandonlycp3
This is pretty much what I expected/feared when a meeting was announced. As I said...simply agreeing to a meeting generally means that a player has decided to reconcile. The meeting just provides the excuse to back down from trade demands/etc.
