UPDATE: Amick: Orlando Magic Inquire about New Orleans Hornets Point Guard Chris Paul; Magic GM Denies Contact
by Evan Dunlap on Jun 22, 2010 3:27 PM EDT
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PrintVeteran NBA beat writer Sam Amick cites "a league source" in reporting that the Orlando Magic are interested in trading for New Orleans Hornets franchise point guard Chris Paul, a three-time All-Star whose 10.0 career assists-per-game average leads all active players, and ranks third all-time.
While it's not known what the Magic would be willing to offer, the mere inquiry is a reflection of the organizational thinking as they move forward with Howard as the centerpiece and Jameer Nelson running the show.
Orlando is interested in an elite-level, pure point guard to replace Nelson, who has never averaged more than 5.6 assists per game in his six-year career and has three seasons and a combined total of $21.9 million left on his contract. The Magic attempted to make up for his distributing deficiencies by signing veteran Jason Williams last summer, but both him and veteran point guard Anthony Johnson will be free agents on July 1.
Prying Paul from New Orleans is no easy task, but would certainly be a worthwhile one. As I see it, he is the league's top point guard by miles, easily eclipsing the likes of Deron Williams, Steve Nash, and Rajon Rondo due to the depth and breath of his skills. Pairing Paul, who only turned 25 last month, with franchise center Dwight Howard would easily give the Magic the best point guard/center combination in the league and make them championship contenders for years to come.
UPDATE: Magic GM Smith denies that he's spoken to the Hornets regarding Paul.
The only difficulty--and it's a considerable one--is finding a trade package that suits both teams. The Hornets have a variety of horrendous contracts they'd like to move, most notably that of starting center Emeka Okafor, who has four years and just over $53 million left on his. Unproductive swingman James Posey is owed $13.4 million over this season and next, which is another obligation the Hornets would like to avoid. Any deal centered on Paul would certainly require the Magic--or whichever team is lucky enough to land his services--to take back at least one of those deals. In addition, expect the ransom for Paul to be steep, requiring several future draft picks, a young prospect or two, and a highly paid fringe All-Star-type who can still contribute.
Indeed, acquiring Paul will be costly, and there's no guarantee that the Hornets will try too hard to move him; Amick deems any Paul deal "unlikely." Instead, they may prefer to trade his young backup, Darren Collison, instead. Yet if he's available, Magic GM Otis Smith must do his due diligence and try to find a deal that makes sense for New Orleans, even if it means accepting Okafor, Posey, or both in addition to Paul. Rarely does the league's best point guard hit the trade market, and rarely do the Magic have such a high-dollar trade chip (Vince Carter's deal pays him in excess of $17.5 million this season, but only $4 million is guaranteed next season, making it a sort-of expiring) as well.
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Don't tease me like that!
I’ve been dreaming about Chris Paul playing for the Magic for years, and this would be amazing. However, I just don’t see this happening. Also, Jameer has really grown on me over the years and it would sadden me to see him go or be relegated to a backup role. That being said, a healthy CP3 would be alright with me!
Wouldn’t it be kinda hilarious if Okafor played backup minutes for Dwight Howard? What would that do to the man’s psyche?
The intensity has to go up, up! Not down...UP! -Stan Van Gundy
Man this would be incredible
But ill be sad for Jameer too.
jesus christ
i’m salivating. whatever it takes to make this happen, please.
www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04
1-3% Chance this happens?
Only 7 different teams have won a title since David Stern has been the commissioner
theres also a rumor with the bulls, Deng for Pietrus and Gortat...
I saw it on RealGM….BQR, did you hear anything about this
Snort worthy. Here's the original context......
So a friend of the poster JOHN from here, messaged me on facebook saying that JOHN had some interesting inside information that he wanted to share with the board, but he couldn’t because he was on vacation and didn’t really have internet access. Anyway, here are the complete contents of what he sent me via facebook for your perusal.
So my cousin’s roommate’s sister’s friend said…….LOL
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
by magicfaninTN on Jun 22, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry to go OT.
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
by magicfaninTN on Jun 22, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Trade
Well there was a trade I made that worked. Magic get Paul, Okafor, and Posey for Jameer, Carter, and Bass. I think. Let me work the trade machine. Love having a job where I dont do anything all day practically.
That one works money-wise
Another one that doesn’t saddle us with 5 years of Okafor:
Paul and Peterson for Carter
Bass to New Orleans filling Rasual Butler’s exception
Posey to Orlando filling Hedo Turkoglu’s exception
Net: Paul, Peterson, and Posey for Carter and Bass
I don’t think there’s any way in hell New Orleans does this (pardon my French), but I don’t think Paul’s going to be moved anyway.
Honor is no substitute for victory.
Thats probably what it would take
plus a first round pick. I’m having a hard time even thinking this can happen tho.
Thanks Vince.
That starts getting messy because of salary oddities
Paul’s BYC, so he’s “worth” a lot less in a trade than his salary. The simplest ones including Jameer I could find were:
Nelson + Carter = Paul + Okafor + Wright
OR
Nelson + Carter = Paul + Posey + Peterson + Wright
Honor is no substitute for victory.
By the way, for the super-ultra-ridiculous Otis-just-fleeced-Nawlins trade:
Nelson + Carter + Bass + Gortat = Paul + Collison + Okafor + West
No way New Orleans would do this (it only gets rid of one bad contract, and it’s arguably their least-bad one), but it’s hilarious to think about.
Honor is no substitute for victory.
Even though it works, I don't like that trade at all.
1) I don’t want Okafor ANYWHERE near the Magic, even if it’s backing up Dwight, especially considering his contract. New Orleans buried itself when it traded Chandler for the Big Bust since I thought the Hornets wanted to shed salary, not take on more it.
2) I wouldn’t touch Posey’s contract in a million years; vastly overpaid considering his production.
3) We hardly have any cap flexibility for these next couple of years, it would only get worse with this trade.
4) Trading Nelson would probably upset Dwight and make him one step closer to opting out in 2012 and wanting to win his rings with another team.
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
#4
Doubt it. Dwight is very tight with Chris Paul as well. They were on the Olympic team together. And Paul has said he would rather play with Dwight than LeBron. The only person I dont think Dwight wants to play with might be LeBron. I am sure they could squash that, but I still think Dwight and LeBron see themselves as rivals.
And none of those objections would matter if CP3 comes here.
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
by magicfaninTN on Jun 22, 2010 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
What's the objection to Okafor?
I mean, he’s overpaid for what he does, sure. And I’m not sure how he’d fit alongside Dwight. (Probably not any better than Gortat.) But he’s a solid big man and a strong defender. (Almost definitely better than Gortat. And I like Gortat.) And it’s not like he’s some kind of head case or anything. He’s a good guy and a useful player who just happened to be overdrafted and overpaid — if he were a #15 pick making $5 million a year, everyone would say he was great.
The Magic's total second-round margin of victory: 101 points.
The Hawks' highest second-round game score: 98 points.
Even at 6 or 7 million, I wouldn't think he was a bad contract
He’s the eighth best shooter in the league, at .5093 FG% – one slot behind Pau Gasol and one slot ahead of Tim Duncan. His eFG% of .530 is pretty darn good, too. His turnover rate’s still a bit high, but I’d consider him a high second-tier player. He’s not a star, but he’s a darn good option. Being on the Bobcats was one of the worst things that could have happened to him, because he didn’t have the pieces around him to be successful. In Orlando’s system, he could easily be superior to Gortat. I don’t think he’d work well in a Twin Towers either, but as a back-up, even for extended minutes, I’d prefer Okafor to Gortat.
Honor is no substitute for victory.
Sure, we all would if all other things were equal.
Only talking here about absorbing Okafor in order to get CP3. So, in that case, all other things are not equal.
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
by magicfaninTN on Jun 22, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
The reasons I'm adamantly against bringing in Okafor:
1) It could bring back the Draft Day 2004 demons when Dwight got booed as most people felt Okafor was the consensus #1 pick (Self-admittedly, I was one of those people who wanted Okafor but fortunately, the right choice was made).
2) As MagicMark pointed out, his contract is an albatross and he would most likely back up Dwight since he doesn’t have the skillset on offense to play PF in a traditional set, let alone SVG’s. I don’t want a backup who gets paid 8 figures a year even if he is a decent player.
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
Ok, maybe it's not a problem like I thought it was.
I still wouldn’t want to take on Okafor’s contract though, especially if he’s backing up Dwight.
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
Well, yeah.
I wouldn’t do it without a reason, and I don’t think the Magic would either. But getting Chris Paul is definitely a reason.
The Magic's total second-round margin of victory: 101 points.
The Hawks' highest second-round game score: 98 points.
Fair enough.
I’d take on his contract if we could get CP3.
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
Dont buy any of them. CP3 is way worth all that, and Magic can always trade Okafor around. D12 will get pissed but Jameer might not be in trade and be a backup, and regardless, a CP3/D12 duo is championship-insured basically.
Chris Paul can't guarantee Dwight/the Magic a championship.
Other teams are trying to get better and gun us down. The Lakers are trying to stay on top and could if they land Chris Bosh via S&T. The Cavs, Celtics, and even the Hawks if they lose Joe Johnson may drop off a bit but teams like the Nets, Bulls, Heat, or even Knicks could get get vastly better. I’d be ecstatic if we could get Chris Paul but I think saying that we’d be guaranteed a championship is a bit blind. What if they don’t deliver by 2012 when both CP and DH can opt out of their contracts?
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
Im sorry but thats a risk I’d easily take. I’d take CP3 over any other player in the whole NBA (LBJ, Wade, Durant, Melo, Bosh). And I really think you’re missing the X’s and O’s, CP3 has a terrific 3pnter, midrange, close range, 10+ assists, he had such a good chemistry with Chandler and the alley hoops between them, its fairly obvious CP3 and Dwight would win a championship.
You're right, it's about taking risks.
Last year, the Magic did by trading for Vince but it didn’t pan out this year. This offseason, they’ll probably have to take another risk or two but hopefully, it/they will be worth it. I do realize all aspects of Chris Paul’s game and I do think he could develop a great chemistry with Dwight as he is one of the few PGs I would take over Jameer Nelson. Personally, I don’t have my hopes up of CP3 in a Magic uni but it sure is nice to dream!
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
I also agree that I'd take CP3 over those players you listed in parentheses....
because he’s a franchise-level player who doesn’t have a giant ego that might clash with Dwight. If CP3 were in a Magic uni, I couldn’t see a Kobe/Shaq saga happening between the two.
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
Just imagine.. Howard and Oakafor on the floor together..
Who could stop them? -With Lewis at the 3 and Paul at point?? That would be unfair!!
No, this is a rumor. :-)
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
by magicfaninTN on Jun 22, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
why is this happening to us? D:
I'm a girl.
by TheGiantSquid on Jun 22, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Pay back for hating on JJ all these years!
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Jun 23, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
This deal might affect the team's chemistry greatly if we loose Nelson in the trade...
I hate Pau Gasol!
Chris Paul's skill would more than make up for the chemistry.
The likelihood of us getting him is astronomically low.
It would be amazing
but not gonna happen unless the guy that used to be Memphis’ GM is now in New Orleans.
That's what I was thinking
That’s the guy we need to be talking to. Although looking back, the Grizzlies did get some decent pieces considering their rebuilding situation. They just should have gotten more.
by BlueSkyOneCloud on Jun 22, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Obviously this is not a free agent thread
but I was wondering what people thought of Shaun Livingston as a potential backup pointguard. He had a good end to last season after getting a chance to play for the Wizards. Of course he had that horrific injury a few years back, but he was more than serviceable towards the end of last season.
Can't shoot the three
Otherwise I love him.
by eltharion_doa on Jun 23, 2010 3:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Really don't think this will happen.
but ALL of the negatives that potentially come with this trade are VASTLY outweighed by Chris Paul’s amazing talent/drive/leadership/etc.
I would feel bad for Jameer b/c he has given so much to this team, but if Otis has the chance to do this, he does it.
CP3 is still 2 years from FA, so he can’t decide where he wants to go (if NOLA is even considering it), but he prolly still has a lot of influence in it even as a contracted player.
Already, other teams can make better offers. Say, NJ Nets, can take on Paul’s contract because they have the cap space, and they dont have to send expiring, 1 yr rentals like VC. They also have good young assets (dont think they will give up Brook tho) so they can send #3 and C.Lee also, and that basically kills 95% of all other offers.
The only way Orlando is going to make a comparably enticing offer is if they take on (and TPE) bad contracts like Okafor, Posey, Peja, Peterson, Songaila. It would be a massive scale salary trade I’d imagine, and I think the Magic would do it too. Except for Okafor, none of the bad contracts span more than 2 years, and the Magic dont have rookie scale contracts (except Ryan) but they have attractive pieces to surround the new Collison, Thornton, West and mega cap space core in Jameer, Bass (who they’ve wanted), and Gortat (MLE Center better than Okafor imo), and VC (1 yr star rental). Orlando would probably have to throw in all the possible future draft picks they’re legally allowed too also heh.
I think the Magic’s best bet tho, is to just grab CP3 in FA with a max contract in 2 years. Magic should very capably have max money that summer as Dwight opts out and resigns later. Im hoping this becomes a transparent and publicized strategy for Orlando, so NOLA realizes they are losing CP3 in 2 yrs (2 seasons to show CP3 he can be back in the WCF and beyond is unrealistic) and feels the pressure to trade him. Ofc, they might not trade him to Orlando, but if CP3 pressures NOLA and they have respect for him, NOLA can dump their bad contracts to Orlando and restart with Collison, and CP3 can be with D12.
I love Jameer. I really do.
But Chris Paul is another level. I would drop anyone on the roster in a heartbeat to get a Paul-Dwight pairing.
I love LeBron. No really, I love Jameer.
Catch the UPDATE. Otis denies contact.
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
Yeah, but...it's Otis
Love him to death, but he’d probably deny sleeping at night and breathing if he thought it would conceal his discussions
Honor is no substitute for victory.
Flat denials are usually accurate.
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
by magicfaninTN on Jun 22, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
kinda like the bosh talk. imo useless. its not going to happen.
we need a scorer to replace carter.imo jj is that man. bring carter off the bench and play bass more.our team can get it done now with the current roster if everyone plays to their potential.
Jameer can GTFO is Orlando gets CP3
I do love Jameer (no homo ;D), but getting CP3 would be the highlight of my life (seriously). I don’t even want to think about the trade possibilities, because I enjoy thinking about the high that acquiring Paul would give me.
by Ol' Uncle Munnerlyn on Jun 22, 2010 4:35 PM EDT reply actions
Wow. Sorry about your life. D:
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
by magicfaninTN on Jun 22, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I love when people use 'no homo'
oh wait, no I don’t
I'm a girl.
by TheGiantSquid on Jun 22, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm still waiting for someone to say (homo)
In Gene We Trust.
by MoveThoseChains on Jun 22, 2010 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I knew you would be offended by this. *chest bump*
No homo, obviously.
I'm a girl too.
Haters gonna hate.
i love this deal even if i would cry for losing jameer, the midget has grown on me
"Pietrus is a Guadeloupan God." - TheNole9Yards
"I don't want a massage I want a FACIAL!"
--stay strong, Stacey King.
The [crib] midget has grown on me
There. Fixed it for you. And same for me. Love that little crib midget.
I'm a girl too.
Haters gonna hate.
hah, thanks GMG. I doubt NO would do it, just like i doubt Otis would deal Peaches / Gortat to Bulls for Deng
not in the teams’ best interests.
"Pietrus is a Guadeloupan God." - TheNole9Yards
"I don't want a massage I want a FACIAL!"
--stay strong, Stacey King.
If this ever happens Otis should be in the GM HOF if ever there is one.
I think this is a pipe dream though. There is no way the Hornets will get fleeced like this by Otis, is there?
Wall
I’d rather just trade for the first pick and get wall. I mean washington would probably take jameer and pietrus for wall.
washington has no incentive to trade just their #1 pick
the reason that chris paul MIGHT be on the block is that New Orleans has a ton of bad contracts relative to production value. Even then, it is extremely unlikely that he will be traded anywhere, much less to the Magic (though I would be ecstatic if it happened)
Ball!
post reminded me of Turk!
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Jun 23, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Of course we want Paul
We also want Wade, LeBron, Bosh, Amare, Gasol, ’Melo and Deron Williams.
We’re not getting any of those guys, though.
Also, I called this back when Chris Paul had that knee surgery. Not the Orlando part, but that the Hornets might try to shift him while his value is still ridonkulous.
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