CP3 to Clippers is a done deal

[LB3533]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a terrible deal for the Hornets?

Eric Gordon is no better than Ben Gordon. I think Ben Gordon is actually the better player.

Kevin Martin is better than both of them.

Odom plus Scola makes the Hornets a playoff team.

The new Hornets owners would be reaping in playoff money in Year One. I do not understand how "bright" a future is with years and years of missing the playoffs and stinking?

That Minny pick, whoever it turns out to be is going to also "enjoy" season after season of losing.

I really don't see a lot of New Orleans fans consistently buying season tickets to watch that mess.

As far as "on the basketball court" goes, the Laker trade was far better than the Clippers trade.

When you trade your franchise player away, you SHOULD be in the lottery, but the Hornets were going to trade their franchise player away and (great chance to) STILL remain a playoff team.

That should be applauded as genius, not vetoed.

Boggles my mind.

[LB3533]

The Hornets should strongly consider trading Eric Gordon. Not a franchise player, a third wheel ... and about to demand a huge contract.

They should see what is out there for him. See if they can find anything better for their rebuilding.

I agree, Eric is a nice player, he's not a franchise guy. He needs to play next to a "franchise guy" a la Blake Griffin.

[LB3533]

So the Clippers keep Bledsoe and Billups and add Paul? Are they a super powered timberwolves now?

maybe they are planning on trading Bledsoe to get another piece to add to CP3 and Griffin?

This would be the smartest manuever on their part...

I think the Hornets were much better off with the Lakers/Rockets deal.

I don't know, I think the hornets made out like bandits in this deal, they took half the clippers team and a top 5 draft pick in one of the best drafts in ages.

This deal is much better for their future. Martin/Scola/Odom would've helped them win games right now. The problem with that is that they wouldn't be good enough to win anything meaningful, but would be too good to get into the draft lottery to get young guys & reload.

This was the smarter move for them.

I don't agree it was smarter.

The move let the franchise save salary...this makes it more attractive to future owners.

They will have low salary and no chance to make the playoffs, but will still turn a profit.

The move isn't really about winning on the court, but how to stuff the pockets.

[dtrader]

^Exactly.  They kept the salaries down, added young talent in Aminu, a potential trade piece or second star in Gordon, and a very valuable draft pick to develop (on a cheap contract) in the future.  The league still looks ridiculous for how it was handled, but they came away with a very strong deal. 

[barefacedmonk]

ESPNChrisPalmer: Blake Griffin upon hearing @CP3 news: "It's going to be Lob City."

I'm excited to see the two play together.

[Who]

I'd love to see Aminu start at power forward alongside Okafor.

I think Aminu has a Kirilenko type game as an undersized quick PF. I'd love to see him use all that length and quickness to be a hugely disruptive team defender alongside a strong interior defender in Okafor.

[Who]

ESPNChrisPalmer: Blake Griffin upon hearing @CP3 news: "It's going to be Lob City."

I'm excited to see the two play together.

Oh jeez, DeAndre Jordan too!

Those two could finish #1 and #2 for most alley-oop dunks this year. Remember what CP3 used to do when he had a finisher at the rim in Tyson Chander? Aw jeez. Man, that is going to be tough to defend against.

Chris Paul has to be favourite to win the assist title this year.

It's a pity Rondo didn't get David West. I thought Rondo would've posted the largest assist per game average since John Stockton in the early 1990s. Bah, oh well.

[CelticSooner]

Clippers gonna definitely be exciting to watch this season. Paul just has to toss it up to Blake and Jordan.

[PosImpos]

Clippers are a must watch all season after this trade.

[PosImpos]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a terrible deal for the Hornets?

Eric Gordon is no better than Ben Gordon. I think Ben Gordon is actually the better player.

Kevin Martin is better than both of them.

Odom plus Scola makes the Hornets a playoff team.

The new Hornets owners would be reaping in playoff money in Year One. I do not understand how "bright" a future is with years and years of missing the playoffs and stinking?

That Minny pick, whoever it turns out to be is going to also "enjoy" season after season of losing.

I really don't see a lot of New Orleans fans consistently buying season tickets to watch that mess.

As far as "on the basketball court" goes, the Laker trade was far better than the Clippers trade.

When you trade your franchise player away, you SHOULD be in the lottery, but the Hornets were going to trade their franchise player away and (great chance to) STILL remain a playoff team.

That should be applauded as genius, not vetoed.

Boggles my mind.

the Lakers / Rockets trade would have just made the Hornets another perpetual borderline playoff team for the next 3-4 years.  paying lots of money for a team but not getting a lot of wins, without any true stars.

with this trade, the hornets have a lot less money tied up in players long term, and with the right moves they could become a lot better than just a borderline playoff team within a few years.  

the important thing to remember here is that the hornets need to be sold to an owner.  an owner is going to want to buy a team that has a lot of potential to be shaped as the owner sees fit.  

a prospective buyer won't be as interested in a team that is locked in to a certain roster and a certain fate for the near future, especially one with very little chance of acquiring a truly marketable franchise superstar any time soon.


you see the difference blake griffin made to the clippers last year?  the difference durant made to the sonics / thunder?  the difference rose has made to the bulls?  getting a franchise superstar instantly makes your team relevant and interesting to fans in general, not just fans in your local market.  

that's why a prospective owner would rather get a team with a weak roster that has the chance to draft high and get such a star than a team full of middle of the road talent.

[guava_wrench]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a terrible deal for the Hornets?

Eric Gordon is no better than Ben Gordon. I think Ben Gordon is actually the better player.

Kevin Martin is better than both of them.

Odom plus Scola makes the Hornets a playoff team.

The new Hornets owners would be reaping in playoff money in Year One. I do not understand how "bright" a future is with years and years of missing the playoffs and stinking?

That Minny pick, whoever it turns out to be is going to also "enjoy" season after season of losing.

I really don't see a lot of New Orleans fans consistently buying season tickets to watch that mess.

As far as "on the basketball court" goes, the Laker trade was far better than the Clippers trade.

When you trade your franchise player away, you SHOULD be in the lottery, but the Hornets were going to trade their franchise player away and (great chance to) STILL remain a playoff team.

That should be applauded as genius, not vetoed.

Boggles my mind.

I think Gordon is horrible. I wasn't aware anyone liked him outside of Dumars.

This trade was much better for NO. All that matters this season is getting sold. After that they can work on rebuilding. Minny will remain well into lottery territory. NO's own pick will also be very high for the upcoming season. Two good lottery picks can be really big with the right talent available. And the new owner can feel like he is starting from scratch in building his team.

[JBcat]

The new Stockton/Malone era.  Should be really exciting to watch. 

[BASS_THUMPER]

lakers wont be able to stop em

[Celtics4ever]

It's the Clippers if there is a way to lose they will find it.

[feckless]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a terrible deal for the Hornets?

Eric Gordon is no better than Ben Gordon. I think Ben Gordon is actually the better player.

Kevin Martin is better than both of them.

Odom plus Scola makes the Hornets a playoff team.

The new Hornets owners would be reaping in playoff money in Year One. I do not understand how "bright" a future is with years and years of missing the playoffs and stinking?

That Minny pick, whoever it turns out to be is going to also "enjoy" season after season of losing.

I really don't see a lot of New Orleans fans consistently buying season tickets to watch that mess.

As far as "on the basketball court" goes, the Laker trade was far better than the Clippers trade.

When you trade your franchise player away, you SHOULD be in the lottery, but the Hornets were going to trade their franchise player away and (great chance to) STILL remain a playoff team.

That should be applauded as genius, not vetoed.

Boggles my mind.

I was thinking the same thing!  I have no clue why the league voided the other trade and said this was fair. 

Kevin Martin definitely is better than Gordon.  Kaman was terrible last year --Scola or Odom individually would be a fair trade for Kaman and the other 2 Clips are question marks?  Boggles my mind also.