We have the most to offer the Hornets, and I think we pose the best chance of winning for CP3. We just need to get in his ear and convince him.
Where does it say he doesn't want to play here? An unnames source says there are 3 "preferred" teams. But, since all 3 of those teams is not really in a good position to make a sweet deal straight up with the Hornets, they are going to have to go to a LOT of trouble to nab Paul. New Orleans is not going to give him away. Therefore, a dozen other teams, several in much better positions to give excellent value to the Hornets are going to be making offers soon. Paul and his folks will start sifting through all this and start really thinking about what is going to be best for them. It likely doesn't turn out to be going to New York.
I didn't take the time to see what the Knicks, Magic and Lakers could offer, but this might be "fair" or at least best whatever else anybody might be offering. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=26fnb9g
Isn't Vince Carter an expiring? In any case, Jameer does not seem like what the Hornets would want. They have a young stud in Collison... How do they both fit?
You are right. I am reading to much into it, but at the same time, could you honestly doubt those are the teams he would list? Perhaps he has a couple others in mind, but are we one of them? You have to wonder if he would veto any deal that sends him here even if Roy/Aldridge/Oden all stayed.
He can't veto any deal. What is he going to do? Kick and shout as the plane takes him to Portland, and then pout during his press conference? Get real.
LA and Orlando certainly do, you did NOT sell me on NYK being better. I thought he wanted to win a ring? I guess he's planning on Carmello coming. In which case they ought to split the league into two leagues, the Eastern Conference superstar teams/punching bags and the Western conference setting sun league. I would seriously be physically ill if he went to LA. Orlando I could stomach, barely, but that would mean two of the best teams in the NBA were in the same state. Horrible.
But he has the power to not resign with us and basically be a rental as we just gutted our team for him. I think he would like Portland if he played here, but it is a possiblity he bolts for a big market or something like that.
Remember when Chris Webber was actually good? Didn't he come out and say he didn't want to play for Sacramento? Well, Petrie had the balls to trade for him anyway, and they won him over. Worth a shot!
I have no doubt that we have already been on the phone with NO and are making every reasonable effort to get CP3. IN CHO/CHAD/MIKE/LARRY I TRUST!
He has two years left on his contract. If the Blazers turn into a contender with him on the team, why would he want to leave the certainty of a championship contender for the uncertainty of another team? That's a risk I think most are willing to take.
If he's really "all about winning" he shouldn't want anything to do with New York. Now, if he's serious about competing for a title and teaming up with star players that would complement his style and get more than enough adoration from the fans AND get paid well to do it... Portland is where it's at. If he only knew that. If he's serious about teaming up with Amar'e and Carmello in a few years, I wouldn't bother with this trade unless it's just too good. Meaning we keep Roy, Oden, LA and Batum. A two year rental of Chris Paul would be worth Miller, Przybilla, Bayless, Fernandez and any other filler material. Very tempting...
The key word for every Blazer fan to hang onto in this rumor is "preferred." As in, "I prefer steak, but you know that prime rib looks good enough for me." I think this is almost as much up to Roy as it is Cho. Roy has got to get on the phone and sell Paul hard on the wonders of playing in the Northwest.
Minus 1 due to lockout. I am not saying one way or the other, I am saying it is a possibility especially since we were not listed. Like I said he could like Portland and realize he has a great chance to win, but at this point, I don't if it is worth it if he has it in his mind to play for one of those teams listed regardless of how well he did in Portland. About the only thing to change his mind is if we won the championship this upcoming season, which I think is possible with him, but no certainty.
Assuming there is a lockout. And if Paul is supposedly "all about winning", you take the gamble that he turns your team into a contender, which would lead to him resigning. Just my opinion.
I like it.... I would try to deal for just Paul though. Maybe offer something like this. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2efujr7 And then I would try to turn around and deal Miller for a small forward or a backup two, because Matthews will be starting in all likelihood. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=25tjryv Paul/Johnson/Mills Roy/Matthews/Williams Battier/Babbitt Aldridge/Cunningham/Pendergraph Oden/Camby
That is not quite how it works in the NBA. The bigger markets, being the steaks, are always going to be attractive and will also get the max free agents. The small markets will not sign the max free agents, usually, and are generally not preferred for superstars like Paul unless there is near certainty that small market is on the verge of winning a title. It is very possible we could win with Paul and a healthy squad, but we have to stay healthy and I don't know just how high the certainty is. This is why the NBA is not all that fun because small markets generally get the stars through the draft and that is usually it.
This is the MOST we could offer without involving redundancy (LMA) too many pieces for their roster (You could throw in Dante and Pendy) or involving a third team: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=25y6fz3 Portland Out: JPEC Miller Bayless Rudy Batum Camby Portland In: Okafor Posey CP3 Result for NOH: It saves NOH Mega bank gives them a legit center in Camby for two years, a stud at the wing in Batum, a shooter in Rudy and combo guard in Bayless to either start or back up Rudy and Miller/Collison PG: Miller/Collison/Bayless SG: Rudy/Bayless SF: Batum/Corpse of Peja PF: West C: Camby/eventually JPEC Result for Portland: PG: Paul/Johnson/Mills SG: Roy/Matthews/Williams SF: Matthews/Babbit/Dante/Posey PF: LMA/Okafor/Pendergraph/Dante C: Oden/Okafor/ Ekwebe? some other scrub? That looks mighty fucking tasty to me and talk about a consolidation trade! Oh you could throw in $3 million draft picks, rights to Euros etc. You could throw in Dante and Pendy for that Matter or Elliot Williams or one of the other rookies. Hell throw in a few Gyros from Big Bertha's or that Deli in the shell of Mall 205 damn that stuff is tasty!
I love it when players say they will only play for certain teams. Unless yuor named Kobe, Wade, Dwight or LeBron, you ain't good enough to. Plus, just how the hell are the lakers going to get him?
