How about Chris Paul?

[winsomme]

What's Next In New Orleans:  Yesterday the New Orleans Hornets came to a "mutual" agreement to part ways with GM Jeff Bower. While some are saying the decision was made several days ago, sources close to the situation say the decision was not reached yesterday, but it wasn't reached last week either.

Bower's demise was ultimately his own.

According to sources, Bower's stance on not trading star guard Chris Paul - a hardline stance on the subject - ultimately cost him his job. That stance combined with what some have labeled as a "sour" relationship with Chris Paul ultimately ended Bowers' tenure with the team.

Paul has been extremely vocal about his unhappiness with where New Orleans is in terms of competing for a championship and Bower has done little in the eyes of ownership to defuse the situation; in fact, some say he's fanned the flames. The inability to get Paul on board was a huge issue with ownership.

The team has begun a search for a new General Manager. There was a strong sentiment in Las Vegas yesterday that Chris Paul is now clearly on the trading block with some executives saying they expected him to be traded in the coming weeks.

Hornets' sources warned not to read too much into the decision to remove Bower, with one Hornets' insider saying that the hope was a new GM might be able to bridge the divide with Paul and start to repair what's clearly become a broken relationship. However, if that divide can't be closed it seems far more likely that the new GM will be faced with a tough decision: trade Paul now or wait for him to walk away in 2012.

Former Blazers' GM Kevin Pritchard has been mentioned as a possible replacement. Sources close to Pritchard said that he had not been contacted yet, but that he was likely a prime candidate mainly because he fits the described criteria perfectly. He is an established credible executive with a strong leadership style. He is an aggressive trader, and he has proven that he can extract good assets in deals.

The fact that Pritchard has a solid relationship with new Hornets' coach Monty Williams surely doesn't hurt his candidacy. And as one Western Conference executive joked "If Monty has any pull, Pritch should be the next guy…"

The Hornets have set no time table on replacing Bower, but it's expected to happen fairly quickly.

From there we'll see how Chris Paul responds, and that might be the most telling sign of his future. If Paul tosses his unwavering support behind a GM, the Hornets may not have to consider the next option and that's trading away their star player.



Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16808#ixzz0tfsclNX6

[vinnie]

We have one of the best point guards in the league in Rondo. Not sure why teh Celts would want Chris Paul -- seriously.

[Who]

I don't think has changed anything in terms of Paul's availability.

[dwlefty13]

What's Next In New Orleans:  Yesterday the New Orleans Hornets came to a "mutual" agreement to part ways with GM Jeff Bower. While some are saying the decision was made several days ago, sources close to the situation say the decision was not reached yesterday, but it wasn't reached last week either.

Bower's demise was ultimately his own.

According to sources, Bower's stance on not trading star guard Chris Paul - a hardline stance on the subject - ultimately cost him his job. That stance combined with what some have labeled as a "sour" relationship with Chris Paul ultimately ended Bowers' tenure with the team.

Paul has been extremely vocal about his unhappiness with where New Orleans is in terms of competing for a championship and Bower has done little in the eyes of ownership to defuse the situation; in fact, some say he's fanned the flames. The inability to get Paul on board was a huge issue with ownership.

The team has begun a search for a new General Manager. There was a strong sentiment in Las Vegas yesterday that Chris Paul is now clearly on the trading block with some executives saying they expected him to be traded in the coming weeks.

Hornets' sources warned not to read too much into the decision to remove Bower, with one Hornets' insider saying that the hope was a new GM might be able to bridge the divide with Paul and start to repair what's clearly become a broken relationship. However, if that divide can't be closed it seems far more likely that the new GM will be faced with a tough decision: trade Paul now or wait for him to walk away in 2012.

Former Blazers' GM Kevin Pritchard has been mentioned as a possible replacement. Sources close to Pritchard said that he had not been contacted yet, but that he was likely a prime candidate mainly because he fits the described criteria perfectly. He is an established credible executive with a strong leadership style. He is an aggressive trader, and he has proven that he can extract good assets in deals.

The fact that Pritchard has a solid relationship with new Hornets' coach Monty Williams surely doesn't hurt his candidacy. And as one Western Conference executive joked "If Monty has any pull, Pritch should be the next guy…"

The Hornets have set no time table on replacing Bower, but it's expected to happen fairly quickly.

From there we'll see how Chris Paul responds, and that might be the most telling sign of his future. If Paul tosses his unwavering support behind a GM, the Hornets may not have to consider the next option and that's trading away their star player.



Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16808#ixzz0tfsclNX6

I actually think that's the best move for New Orleans; they have a young PG in Collison who will be a star (remember his performance against the Celtics?) I think the Hornets can get some great value for Paul to build around Collison and D-West and have a nice young nucleus, something silmilar to OKC or Portland maybe?

Best fit for Paul is Orlando; if that Nelson and Carter trade, throw 2 1st rounders for Paul comes back up I can see Orlando moving up in the Eastern standings.

[action781]

I know that cb'ers tend to overstate Rondo's worth in the minds of other teams' GMs in this blog, but green shades are off for this one.

If they are really concerned that Paul might walk away in 2012, I think they would have to accept Rondo (+ draft pick?) for Paul, right?  They get an all-star pg who can't walk away due to uncompetitiveness for 5 years and is paid somewhat considerably less than what Paul gets now and certainly less than what Paul will demand in 2012.  They test the waters first to see if they can get more, preferably another position since they have Collison already.  But if not, I'd say this isn't a bad scenario for NO.  I think the draft pick might need to be included to seal the deal.

Does Boston do it?  I want to say yes.  But do we have to worry about CP leaving us in 2012 (possibly for NYK)?  If the odds are 50-50 he stays, I say we don't make the trade.  If its 75-25 in favor of resigning, do we make this trade?  Why would he resign though?  We'll have no other pieces in place for him.  But we will have a ton of cap room.  Super team in Boston?  (The green shades were put back on at some point during this post)

[Bankshot]

We have one of the best point guards in the league in Rondo. Not sure why teh Celts would want Chris Paul -- seriously.

Because he's better than Rondo and not a liability on offense.

[Vermont Green]

I can't imagine a scenario where it would be smart for them to trade Chris Paul (OK, maybe if they get Lebron James back in a trade or something crazy like that).  Rebuilding?  What better piece to start with than Chris Paul, a young, dominant player with upside.  Want to win now?  Why not start with an all-NBA calibar player in his prime.

The only rationale could be a financial one cooked up based on some sort of write-off scheme that I wouldn't understand because I am not a CPA.  Realistically though, you can't tell me that it would ever make financial sense for an NBA francise to trade away an asset like Chris Paul unless they are trying to make the francise fail.

[KCattheStripe]

We have one of the best point guards in the league in Rondo. Not sure why teh Celts would want Chris Paul -- seriously.

Because he's better than Rondo and not a liability on offense.

Devil's Advocate: He's also not coming off major surgery.

[Bankshot]

We have one of the best point guards in the league in Rondo. Not sure why teh Celts would want Chris Paul -- seriously.

Because he's better than Rondo and not a liability on offense.

Devil's Advocate: He's also not coming off major surgery.

You mean he IS coming off major surgery.

[moiso]

I can't imagine a scenario where it would be smart for them to trade Chris Paul (OK, maybe if they get Lebron James back in a trade or something crazy like that).  Rebuilding?  What better piece to start with than Chris Paul, a young, dominant player with upside.  Want to win now?  Why not start with an all-NBA calibar player in his prime.

The only rationale could be a financial one cooked up based on some sort of write-off scheme that I wouldn't understand because I am not a CPA.  Realistically though, you can't tell me that it would ever make financial sense for an NBA francise to trade away an asset like Chris Paul unless they are trying to make the francise fail.

I agree.  Why trade their best piece?  So they can never be good?

If Paul is going to walk when his contract is up, then they will have to trade him, but it makes no sense to trade him this early.  And hopefully he will be up front with his team and won't pull a Boozer.

[Vermont Green]

We have one of the best point guards in the league in Rondo. Not sure why teh Celts would want Chris Paul -- seriously.

Because he's better than Rondo and not a liability on offense.

If availalbe (which I doubt), I would trade Rondo, Perk, and Davis plus picks (throw in Harangody too) for Chris Paul without hesitation.  I believe Paul is far better than Rondo based on how easy it is for other teams to exploit Rondo's lack of a shot.  We would be way better with Chris Paul.

[KCattheStripe]

We have one of the best point guards in the league in Rondo. Not sure why teh Celts would want Chris Paul -- seriously.

Because he's better than Rondo and not a liability on offense.

Devil's Advocate: He's also not coming off major surgery.

You mean he IS coming off major surgery.

I meant Rondo isn't. I'm tired.

[KCattheStripe]

We have one of the best point guards in the league in Rondo. Not sure why teh Celts would want Chris Paul -- seriously.

Because he's better than Rondo and not a liability on offense.

If availalbe (which I doubt), I would trade Rondo, Perk, and Davis plus picks (throw in Harangody too) for Chris Paul without hesitation.  I believe Paul is far better than Rondo based on how easy it is for other teams to exploit Rondo's lack of a shot.  We would be way better with Chris Paul.

And then who would be our back up big?

[Jon]

Erden, Gaffney, and if they insist, Lafayette.  

But I'd hope to hold on to Lafayette.  He's showed some real stuff in the summer league!

[moiso]

Half the guys in the league have had major surgery.  I find that people seem to make too big a deal about it, especially with the young guys.  Perk will be fine.  Josh Howard will be fine, and Chris Paul will be fine.  Surgery happens!