Berger: Orlando Magic Among the Contenders in the Chris Paul Sweepstakes, Which Hasn't Ended Despite Indications to Contrary
by Evan Dunlap on Jul 27, 2010 4:07 AM EDT
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PrintJust when it looked like it was safe for Orlando Magic fans to wind down their hopes for their team to acquire All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets, Ken Berger filed this report about his findings after the Hornets' highly publicized meeting with Paul and his agents on Monday. In the meeting, the two parties discussed New Orleans' plans to build a winning team around Paul, and both sides played the sunshine-and-happiness bit afterward. But Berger didn't buy it:
The Hornets succeeded in only one of their goals Monday: ending the public part of this spectacle. The rest of it, up to and including a possible trade that will extricate Paul from the Hornets while salvaging some semblance of value for the organization, will be dealt with behind closed doors.
[....]
According to multiple people within the NBA who are familiar with the Hornets' predicament, Paul's new cadre of power brokers at Creative Artists Agency, led by [Leon] Rose, are continuing to push Paul's exit strategy from New Orleans -- something members of the organization are well aware of and expected.
Additonally, Berger believes the Magic are still in play. His sources say the Magic, Charlotte Bobcats, and New Jersey Nets are "potentially attractive trade partners." Later, he writes that the Hornets think those three teams have more to offer more than the New York Knicks, also believed to be in the hunt, do.
Over the weekend, Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy, who maintains regular contact with team GM Otis Smith, called the Paul rumors "much ado about nothing," while Tim Povtak of NBA FanHouse reported that the Magic's unwillingness to take back the costly contract of Emeka Okafor in any deal for Paul will take them out of the running for him.
This report is merely the latest one Berger has filed on Paul this summer; as best I can tell, he was the first writer to link Paul and the Magic, way back on July 1st, when he noted that Magic center Dwight Howard has pushed Magic ownership to pursue Paul.
On Friday, Chris Broussard reported Paul prefers the Magic.
So if you believe both Berger and Broussard, this picture begins to emerge: there's interest on all sides in this potential deal. Paul likes Orlando; Orlando likes Paul; and the Hornets are at least intrigued with the potential pieces the Magic, among other teams, can offer.
Buckle up.
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so this offseason I learned a new term from OPP: Ockham's razor
The simplest explanation is often the right one.
For me, where there is smoke there is fire. Or at least embers. Why isn’t it dying out? CP3 wants out and he’s looking at the idea of Orlando.
Of course Otis doesn’t as much say in acquiring Paul as the Hornets are in dealing him away.
It can be either. It’s named for William of Ockham, which is also spelled Occam or Hockham. Occam’s Razor is the most widely used spelling, but Mirriam-Webster’s lists Ockham’s Razor as a variant.
And yay, I finally got to use my philosophy minor.
Honor is no substitute for victory.
by The Dark on Jul 27, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I prefer Gillette!
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
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
"I thank my teammates for letting their men blow by them." - Alonzo Mourning after winning the DPOY award
by NC Magic Fan on Jul 27, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I think, and have thought, that this is going to be tough for any team to do.
If I were Dell Demps, and I’m not, this is what I’d ask for Chris Paul.
2 1st round picks, a young star (like Devin Harris say), another young player plus cap relief from Emeka Okafor’s contract.
Otherwise, what’s the point of trading Paul? That’s why I don’t think he ends up getting traded. It’s no biggie that he’s frustrated, but like most things it’ll pass.
EvilCowtownInc: Screwin Suckaz over since 1985...... On Twitter
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Do you honestly say that the Nets has a chance??
The NETS is like my own sense of direction..
The MAGIC made me realize that one..
by silenthero07 on Jul 27, 2010 5:39 AM EDT up reply actions
The Nets could have an outside shot if they throw in Favors. Remember, it doesn’t matter if they’re 30th on Paul’s list, he has no say in where he goes. But i still think Paul is in a Magic uniform day 1 of the season.
#1 LBJ and A-Rod fan
Haters gonna hate.
I myself prefer not to throw in Favors.
The only thing that bothers me now is how the hell is Paul gonna be a Magic.
The NETS is like my own sense of direction..
The MAGIC made me realize that one..
by silenthero07 on Jul 27, 2010 5:46 AM EDT up reply actions
This will only happen if it's going to be a three team trade.
The third team is going to be the one who is going to absorb Okafor’s contract. So there goes the same old question, is there any??
The NETS is like my own sense of direction..
The MAGIC made me realize that one..
LOL!!!!!!!!
Might be my favorite GM right now. I mean good God that guy is awful. AW. FUL. He might be worst than Al Davis. He would be stupid enough to take Okafor’s contract. He would tell the fans: “We have three 2nd overall picks on our team!!! Come on!!! Look at the talent I bring in !!!! Ricky Rubio in 2020!!!!!”
by Mateo9399 on Jul 27, 2010 7:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Tell that to Deranged T'Wolves fans.
So you can keep knocking but won't knock me down
No love lost, no love found
A third team may be needed anyway
Otherwise NO’s stuck in the same position as now, having two starting PG’s. It will be difficult though to convince a third team to lose out on NO’s best player while also taking on its worst contract. If Otis can get this done he’s taking GM of the year. Miami would so pissed if CP3 came to Orlando.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
If a team needs a quality center badly enough, they might take his contract. Okafor isn't awful, he just doesn't produce anywhere close to the size of his contract.
Big man syndrome affects all decent centers in the NBA. There are so few of them that if they have one good season or two, some GM will overpay the hell out of them in hopes that they will continue to improve on those seasons. It rarely happens.
That's why you never draft for the team's need
Magic fan since 99-00
Troy Hudson & Keith Bogans Biggest Fan
by Reediculous on Jul 27, 2010 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nelson
Not only Okafor, but NO would not be interested in Nelson, they already have Collison and would would build around him. So a thrid team has to come into play for Okafor, and Nelson. What teams right now are in need of a boderline allstar PG and a Servicable defensive minded C with a huge contract.
by Hassanali181 on Jul 27, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Bobcats?
Although Nazr Mohammed’s pretty good too.
by eltharion_doa on Jul 28, 2010 5:26 AM EDT up reply actions
If Okafor is the only hold up
Then Otis has a problem, ship Gortat or Bass for him. He’s a better player than both of them. Seriously. How is this not a win win situation for the Magic. Heck can’t the y even agree to pay part of Okafor’s contract on another team? Cash considerations anyone???
Get out of my House!
Ben pointed out that while Okafor is a better player, him and Dwight essentially play the same position and wouldn't flourish together.
Magic fan since 99-00
Troy Hudson & Keith Bogans Biggest Fan
Yeah, but by shipping out the proposed deal of Gortat AND Bass, Okafur would be THE man behind Dwight, and would do nothing but be given the opportunity to flourish as the back up, as he would essentially be absorbing the minutes of both of those guys.
Indeed
and he was too small when he did. Okafor would only eat Gortat’s minutes at back up C so figure 13 per game. I’m positive SVG would try him at PF for certain matchups like he did with Marcin. He’d be better than him in some and worse in others but having CP3 would make that irrelevant. CP3 + Okafor > VC + ’Meer + Gortat. I get not wanting to pay $11.5m, $12.5, $13.5m & $14m over the next 4 seasons for a 13 minute a game back up.
However, CP3 is better than VC & Jameer on the court at the same time so look at like they’d be gaining $9m in 2010/2011 and $8.5m in the 2011/2012 season while losing $5.2m, $5.7m, $6.2m & $6.7m at back up C over the next 4 seasons.
Even if ORL planned to move Gortat and replace him with a $2m back up C, this is the type of player ORL has been trying to get for Dwight. Sacrifice an overpaid back up C for having two of the Top 5 players in the NBA both in their prime. We can only have 5 players on the court at once so when there’s a chance to bring in a guy as good as our #1 guy who is consistently better than his All-Star #2, #3 & #4 guys I hope we pursue it aggressively. We know they’re not touching Dwight, Rashard, J.J., Q & Duhon so no matter who we give up we’re still stacked even it means J.J. starting with Q & MP splitting all the back up SG minutes. Bottom line, if a deal can be made ORL needs to bend over backwards to make it happen.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
Right. So you go from paying $26 million for two guys who sometimes play together for $32 million for two guys who can't play together
by Evan Dunlap on Jul 27, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
True
but one is really, really good and the other better than Gortat offensively but worse defensively. Would you expect the defensive loss for our second unit to be significant if Okafor replaced Marcin?
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
Thats not the counter point you want to make, or have to make. All you have to say is its worth Chris Paul, and as long as we’re not losing Howard, thats all you’ll ever need to say regarding the subject.
by David Polega on Jul 27, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
If getting CP3 meant taking on Okafor's 4 year $52m contract
and both CP3 & Dwight could become FA’s the same year, knowing the following season they’d have Rashard on the books at age 33 for $24m & Okafor for $13.5, I’m still for it. There’s always the real possibility that Dwight could leave so it would seem best to try and put as much talent around him as possible right now and that’s what they’ve done the past three seasons. If there’s a CP3 deal to be made Otis will try. He moved on VC so there’s no question he’d move on the chance to get CP3.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
Our owner is a billionare
i could care less about overspending if its his money LOL ..and he seems like an owner that wants to win which is probly why our pay roll is 90mill +
Like I said as long as that plan includes keeping Dwight. On the other hand if you’re talking long term the only way to keep Dwight is to acquire a player like Chris Paul.
by David Polega on Jul 27, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Time to enter wait and see mode
Sometimes the net can be a gift and a curse. Reading something different almost everyday is tantamount to mental abuse…can’t…take it…anymore (gasp).
by telka on Jul 27, 2010 9:17 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Chris Broussard is an IDIOT
i have no idea why ANYONE would believe a word out of his mouth. He is ALWAYS WRONG.
He had him going to CHI first, then staying in CLE before ultimately deciding he'd be in MAI
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
lebron shoulda gone to Chicago, even now chicago with james would be a stronger team than Miami with james, much less if he froze them out and it was miami withotu james vs the bulls with james, boozer, rose, noah, and whatever 2 they could get for deng.
by David Polega on Jul 27, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Kid has a weird MJ obsession (perhaps worse than Kobe)
Wouldn’t even wear the man’s number. Think he’d play in his city?
And no income tax
Illinois is a flat 3% off the top.
Honor is no substitute for victory.
Clever to ignore boozer, BenQ.
They had signed booz and had room for lbj. Their line up woulda been something like:
Rose
Reddick(assuming we gave him and something else up for deng)
James
Boozer
Noah
And that team owns everyone. Particularly a Miami team without lebron james, but probably a Miami team with lebron james as well.
Conversely if Wade had frozen out the other 2:
Rose
Wade
Deng
Boozer
Noah
vs
Whatever scraps lebron could mop up.
The smart move for wade or lebron woulda been the bulls, and its not even close.
by David Polega on Jul 27, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I had forgotten about Boozer. But Bosh is better than he is anyway.
And you’ll have a hard time convincing me that a combination of Wade/James in Chicago beats what happened with Wade/James/Bosh in Miami.
Mike Miller fits perfectly there too
gl trying to cover the drive and kick
It would be Rose, Boozer, James, Noah, Reddick
Since they have x2 young talent its better than:
Bosh, scrub, James, Wade, Scrub
Make sense?
Additionally, I don’t think you can make a better team out of what woulda been left out there. If the Idea was to win champs, that team 100% comes out of the east every time, slays our starting 5.
by David Polega on Jul 29, 2010 5:19 AM EDT up reply actions
If Okafurs Contract is the Only Hold Up
Then whats the hold up. Take the bad contract for the best point guard in the league. PERIOD. If CP3 ends up in Charlotte and we get to watch him run over Jameer 4 times a year that will be the final nail in Otis’ coffin.
I love how this Chris Paul speculation always somehow end up leading Otis to be fired
Let’s say that the Hornets demanded Dwight Howard & Rashard Lewis for Okafor, Paul, & Posey and won’t consider any other conversation, should Otis be fired for not making that trade happen?
Even though the Hippopotamus lacks a stinger for a tail, a truly wise man would rather be sat on by a bee. ~ Banacek
by funny80sguy on Jul 27, 2010 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly!
What if the Hornets want Dwight Howard for Chris Paul straight up, do we still make the deal?
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
I thought it went without saying
but I guess I have to say it: Get Paul at any cost except Howard.
The whole positive spin thing...
Sounds like SVG is playing his part to the tee also. If the Hornets believe that the Magic are the most attractive team asset wise, Stans playing the whole “I mean, we’ll listen to you but don’t get crazy .” role. Not the “OMG WE WANT CHRIS PAUL AT ANY PRICE” role. Sounds like he’s putting himself, along with GM Otis Smith in prime position for bargaining.
``There’s no need to quit. There’s no need to say that we’re going down fighting because we’re not going down. You just have to think positive and if you think negative you are going to lose. Like I told the guys in the locker room, `If anybody has any doubt, we’re not going to win. But if everybody’s on the same page and believes we’re going to win, then we’re going to win it.’’’ -Dwight Howard
by BleedingBlueSince89 on Jul 27, 2010 10:09 AM EDT reply actions
That's the thing
You don’t go bargain shopping for Chris Paul. You pay any asking price and are ecstatic if they accept your offer. You don’t play posture games when someone like CP3 is potentially on the chopping block.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
Any asking price?
Paul + Okafor + Posey + Stojakovic for Carter + Nelson + Howard + Anderson…you really going to take that trade?
Honor is no substitute for victory.
Goes without saying Dwight is off limits
I value the C position more than any other. I’d take Dwight over anyone in the league, especially with the lack of big men today, making it easier for him to dominate.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
Just making sure you hadn't gone off the deep end
Although there are still really bad trades to be had:
Paul + Okafor + Posey + Stojakovic for Carter + Nelson + Gortat + Pietrus + Anderson actually works out money-wise.
Honor is no substitute for victory.
Yeah I'd hate that one
My “At all costs” means CP3 + Okafor + Posey, lol. Dwight & RA are off limits. Any deal where we still have Dwight, Rashard, J.J., Q, RA & Duhon I’m fine with as long as we get CP3 and a good enough replacement for Gortat in Okafor. Even if they demanded Peaches be included I’d be ok with it as we’d just be back to needing to find another SF for the third straight season. We seem real good at finding SF’s so I wouldn’t be that worried if we lost MP. I’d be concerned about the defense at back up SF but figure with a lineup of CP3 + J.J. + Q + Rashard + Dwight teams will have enough trouble just trying to keep pace with our offense that our defense could take a slight hit at a back up position and we’d still be better off and we’d see an increas in individual and team defense with CP3.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
There are some intangibles in play here.
Arguably the Hornets best bet here, if they’re going to part ways with CP3, is to try and free up as much cap space as possible and look toward rebuilding from the ground up.
If it’s known that CP3 wants out, teams will play it cool and low ball. Because, at the end of the day, the Hornets have got to move him or risk losing him in two years. Given how much fat they have on the books financially, they run the risk of declining steadily and then losing their franchise player for nothing. Which could be fatal for the Hornets. Other teams know this, and they’ll use it as long as they can before giving up someone they’ll miss.
I think that the Magic will take the contract of Okafor, but ONLY if they feel it’s the only way possible of landing Paul. Right now they don’t have to stress about anything because they know that they have the most out of the teams mentioned to offer. I think they’re doing the right thing. They’re kicking the tires and finding what the asking price is. Theyre not just going in and buying.
``There’s no need to quit. There’s no need to say that we’re going down fighting because we’re not going down. You just have to think positive and if you think negative you are going to lose. Like I told the guys in the locker room, `If anybody has any doubt, we’re not going to win. But if everybody’s on the same page and believes we’re going to win, then we’re going to win it.’’’ -Dwight Howard
by BleedingBlueSince89 on Jul 27, 2010 10:22 AM EDT reply actions
It could save them some money
but the longer it gets dragged out the more likely there is to be additional teams who join the hunt.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
The cost is huge
Say the Magic give Nelson, Carter and Gortat for Paul, Okafor and Posey. Current salaries from Magic 31.4 million, to Magic 33.2 million. Sounds OK so far.
Now, look at the next 4 years. The Magic give up 72.4 million and take on 115.6 million, an increase in expenses of 43.2 million. After the luxury tax that is 86.4 million. Even if the Magic don’t take Posey, the increase is 60 million.
The Magic salary expense for 2009-2010 before the tax was 82 million. How much will the DeVoses pay for a championship. Bringing on Paul, Okafor and Posey would be as expensive as an extra years payroll and take away any salary flexibility for the next 3 years.
Not an easy decision.
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
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
"I thank my teammates for letting their men blow by them." - Alonzo Mourning after winning the DPOY award
by NC Magic Fan on Jul 27, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
It is a huge risk
Okafor is still owed $52m for 4 years and CP3 can opt out in 2 years, leaving us with $28m left on Okafor for 2 years and Dwight’s player option is in 2012/2013 like CP3’s. Indeed not an easy decision. Maybe a third team steps up to take Okafor.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
find a third team and compensate them!
future picks, young talent, cash…whatever it takes! we have the highest payroll in the nba, why stop now. everyone at OPP wil help by buying his jersey in both colors!
Maybe all 3 colors if they come out with that black alternate this year.
I haven’t heard anything official or otherwise, so please don’t ask me, but it’s widely rumored that they’re unveiling a third uniform. RUMORED.
by Evan Dunlap on Jul 27, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I saw someone with the black Penny Jersey the other day
had me hoping for the black alts this season
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
ooooooooooo, i stand corrected!
IF the CP3 deal goes thru (currently have every set of fingers on my body crossed) then i will be buying all 3 three colors! and of the course the black dwight howard, even though i already have the black retro. And i wont even bat an eyelash about it. GO MAGIC!
Why not just use the retro blacks from last season as an alternate?
ORL★NDO M★GIC
-SEMINOLES-;;-►
by Wally Balls 407 on Jul 27, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
some sort of rule against designating something an alternate jersey
i have no idea but it was talked about last season semi-frequently here because lots of people expressed their opinions of the retro jersey. (I personally find it my favorite jersey we’ve ever had)
Ben, I thought I remembered you saying that a team must use their alternate in x amount of games over 2 seasons. Does that mean we would have to wait 2 seasons before the (rumored) alternate becomes used in the regular rotation of uniforms?
ORL★NDO M★GIC
-SEMINOLES-;;-►
by Wally Balls 407 on Jul 27, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, gotcha.
Thanks for clearing that up.
ORL★NDO M★GIC
-SEMINOLES-;;-►
by Wally Balls 407 on Jul 27, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
The way I see it
Rich Devos owes Orange County and the City of Orlando about 480 million dollars for the new Amway Center. He got a sweetheart deal, he pays almost nothing and collects almost everything.
he doesnt own the arena
and there are tons more events than the 45 home games + playoff games that will be in the new arena each year
i dont do politics on the internet so thisll be the last i comment on this one
Its not really politics
DeVos pays the city back by providing a contender. The better the team, the more national exposure for the city. I’ll have to check, but I think he gets the majority of concessions for non Magic related events. Either way, he can afford to pay the damn luxury tax.
he has been paying the luxury tax
we are going to have the highest payroll in the league this season, what more do you want?
Some of the above post suggest DeVos is hurting
“Buy more jerseys”, or people fretting about taking on Okafurs contract. Im not concerned with DeVos’ bank statement. The cap concerns me with Otis running it, but I always allude to what John Gabriel did in 99. A good GM can work the cap, Otis cant, but thats another subject.
Gabriel had the luxury
Of a team which was awful.
by eltharion_doa on Jul 28, 2010 5:32 AM EDT up reply actions
u cannot introduce an alternate until uve worn the "new" uni"s for at least two seasons.
this upcoming season will be our third with the new uni’s.
Enough teasing
What do you think are A) the chances Chris Paul is traded at all, and B) the chances he goes to Orlando if dealt?
A) Close to zero
B) Even closer to zero
But it’s fun to speculate
Honor is no substitute for victory.
by The Dark on Jul 27, 2010 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
So…couple of things after reading this discussion.
I said this before on another thread, but it seems like a great way to counteract Miami’s move is solidifying both PG and C, which seem to be the Heats weakest links. Trading for Paul and Okafor would accomplish both in one move. Some may disagree, but I’ll even take Okafor’s OFFENSE over Joel Anthony and Maglore.
Since we’re not supposed to make trades based on a match-up against one team, how do our odds look against Boston? Chicago? We would be an EVEN BETTER defensive team, which is saying a lot since we’re already very good. Also, I’d love if we had a PG that could get Rose and Rondo into foul trouble!
As for Okafor playing the PF, how about for 6-8 min a game? That would put Okafor at around 20 minutes. Not terrible…still not ideal.
Why do we have to do a 3 or 4 team trade? If we can’t find another team now, maybe we could closer to the trade deadline?
But can we find another team? I only briefly thought about this, but here’s my list of potential partners: Toronto (not that we have much use for Calderon), Philly (Brand- i’m kind of ehhhh about this…), Washington (haha, uh Arenas?! and a separate trade of Bass for Yi- and oddly enough, projections like Philly trade more), and my impossibility that actually makes a ton of sense for both teams…Atlanta (Marvin Williams and Zaza!).
Last thing…whoever said NO wouldn’t want Nelson b/c they have Collison is DEAD WRONG. In fact, they can’t get a better player than Nelson from NY or Dallas, and only “prospects” from Portland. You still need someone to be Collison’s backup if you’re ready to turn the keys over to him. Which, I have a feeling, NO is not ready to do.
by thejugs on Jul 28, 2010 12:17 AM EDT reply actions
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