Calling it Now. CP3 will be a Celt this year. My Gut Feeling. Here's why!

[Kane3387]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-chris_paul_hornets_knicks_nba_trade_120111

A trade to the Knicks is not happening. The GM of the Hornets will NOT trade him there. They have nothing to offer. I think he is coming to Boston honestly. I really would be surprised if he wasn't. The reason I feel this way is that I think Ainge could give a [dang] about an extension. I think he would rent him out for one year if it meant a title. Of course that is a big risk. Giving up an all star player entering his prime for one shot at a ring is unheard of.

But look at like this. The NBA is about franchise players. If you don't have any you can't win. Since 1980 only 8 players have been the cornerstone guy for a franchise that won more then one ring: Magic, Bird, Isiah, Jordan, Olajowan, Duncan, Shaq, and Kobe. Sprinkled in the last thirty years are the 1982 Sixers (Dr. J), the 2004 Pistons (collective team...unheard of), the 2006 Heat (Wade, but still had Shaq), the 2008 Celtics (KG) , and the 2010 Mavs (Dirk). Wade, Dr. J, Dirk, and KG at the time were franchise players. So even though those guys only won one ring they were still incredibly rare talents and All Time Players.

CP3 is on that level. Rondo likely will never be. In order to win with Rondo we have to have one of those kind of guys as his teammate. It's just the way it is. A player like that has to be on the team unless you're counting on your team being an anomaly like the 2004 Pistons - good luck. So if I am DA, I am thinking my chances of getting a title with CP3 this season with the big 3 are better then me getting a potential franchise all time player in the next 4-6 years to team with Rondo while he is still an All Star talent.

That being said if you read in the article how CP3 has reached out to Dwight then you got to think, if you are Ainge, that as long as Dwight doesn't get traded to a team he would extend with (this is unlikely, unless Orlando wants Shaq all over again) then you could potentially have both guys in Boston in 2012-2013. If you already have CP3 and still enough cap room to give Howard a maximum deal then it isn't out of the question.

[PosImpos]

Yeah, I think you've got it mostly right here (though I'm not so sure CP3 will end up here this season).  I agree that Danny would roll the dice trading for CP3 even without the guarantee that CP3 will stay in Boston beyond this season.  

CP3 would give us a better chance at a title this season than we'd have with Rondo, and after this season we either have CP3 long term with the chance of luring Howard here as well, or we totally hit the reset button and start the rebuilding process much quicker than if we had held onto Rondo.


I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).


Also, while I think CP3 and Howard will both be traded prior to free agency next summer, I am not so sure it will happen before we get a ways into the season.  I think both the Hornets and the Magic will take their time trying to be sure they make the best deal they can under the circumstances. 

Given that, I think the chances of winning a title when a major change in the starting lineup is made halfway through the year, even if it's a significant upgrade (i.e. Rondo to Paul), might be relatively low.  As such I think Danny will try to make a trade for CP3 prior to the beginning of the season, or not at all.

[heitingas]

I thought the same as you when I read this article, but I think honestly the Clippers are the front runners for CP3, hence why he asked Dwight Howard if they could team up.

The only other place he might consider is LAC. They have the minny pick accompanied with Gordon or Kaman. We have Rondo and top 10 protected pick, or we could up the ante and include many first round picks and Green,Bradley.

It's like this NO CP3 = NO HOWARD

IF he is traded to the Clippers Howard will follow him there or go to Brooklyn with Deron.

Everyone must know this by now.

[indeedproceed]

I agree. I think Danny will also calmly sit down with Christopher after he signs him and explain that not only can he offer him much more money than New York or virtually anywhere else, he can also sign Dwight Howard.

[Kane3387]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

[indeedproceed]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

Lakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw

[PosImpos]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

As heitingas pointed out, I think the Clippers might be willing to risk it, since they have the allure of playing with Blake Griffin in a large market that certainly rivals NYC -- and procuring a big time player like Paul or Howard via trade is probably the only way they can be sure of retaining Blake Griffin beyond his rookie contact.

I'm not certain if the Clippers would have the cap space to sign Dwight Howard next summer if they also signed CP3, though.


Or there's the Lakers, as IP pointed out.  I didn't even think of them.  I wonder if NO would really prefer an injury prone Andrew Bynum to Rondo, though (or a collection of prospects that Rondo might yield via a third team, e.g. the Pacers).  

[Kane3387]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

As heitingas pointed out, I think the Clippers might be willing to risk it, since they have the allure of playing with Blake Griffin in a large market that certainly rivals NYC -- and procuring a big time player like Paul or Howard via trade is probably the only way they can be sure of retaining Blake Griffin beyond his rookie contact.

I'm not certain if the Clippers would have the cap space to sign Dwight Howard next summer if they also signed CP3, though.  

I can't see the Clippers moving DeAndre Jordan and Eric Gordon if they don't know for sure that CP3 is staying. Griffin alone might not be enough to keep Paul. Yet the potential development of Eric Gordon, Eric Bledsoe, Deandre Jordan and Aminu might be enough to keep Blake (also a restricted free agent that they will match) around once his rookie deal is up.

[ChapelHillCeltic]

I think he goes to the Clips.  Thus the decline of the Laker dynasty.

[Kane3387]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

Lakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw

Here is hoping the Laker management sees Bynum's value worth more then a potential rental of Paul. Buss apparently loves Bynum and they might just feel Centers are more hard to come by then PGs (which they are, but CP3 is a special case).

Hopefully he would rather have the Center with the poor knee then the point guard with the poor knee.

[indeedproceed]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

Lakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw

Here is hoping the Laker management sees Bynum's value worth more then a potential rental of Paul. Buss apparently loves Bynum and they might just feel Centers are more hard to come by then PGs (which they are, but CP3 is a special case).

Hopefully he would rather have the Center with the poor knee then the point guard with the poor knee.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7kkbh6v

Then, the Hornets amnesty Okafor, and they're ready to be sold to an enterprising group of mysterious chinese businessmen.

Book it.

[Interceptor]

Clippers make roster moves for the purpose of saving money, and people think that they are going to go after a CP3 + Dwight Howard luxury-tax busting payroll? Is Sterling selling the team? Did he get hit by a bus?

[pearljammer10]

Rondo rings - 1   CP3 Rings- 0



So the hornets wont trade Paul to the Knicks...He'll just wait a year and sign with them next season.

[BballTim]

But look at like this. The NBA is about franchise players. If you don't have any you can't win. Since 1980 only 8 players have been the cornerstone guy for a franchise that won more then one ring: Magic, Bird, Isiah, Jordan, Olajowan, Duncan, Shaq, and Kobe. Sprinkled in the last thirty years are the 1982 Sixers (Dr. J), the 2004 Pistons (collective team...unheard of), the 2006 Heat (Wade, but still had Shaq), the 2008 Celtics (KG) , and the 2010 Mavs (Dirk). Wade, Dr. J, Dirk, and KG at the time were franchise players. So even though those guys only won one ring they were still incredibly rare talents and All Time Players.

CP3 is on that level.

  Two years ago Paul may have been at that level. If he recovers from his knee problems he could get to that level again. Last year, 16 points and 10 assists, 3rd team all-nba and probably 1 4th or 5th place vote for MVP, he clearly wasn't at that level.

[Kane3387]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

Lakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw

Here is hoping the Laker management sees Bynum's value worth more then a potential rental of Paul. Buss apparently loves Bynum and they might just feel Centers are more hard to come by then PGs (which they are, but CP3 is a special case).

Hopefully he would rather have the Center with the poor knee then the point guard with the poor knee.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7kkbh6v

Then, the Hornets amnesty Okafor, and they're ready to be sold to an enterprising group of mysterious chinese businessmen.

Book it.

Lol then they get to play this whole game over again next year with Bynum. Haha stop throwing salt. Seriously though Brown is a UFA right?