So by now you've probably heard that Chris Paul has requested a trade from the New Orleans Hornets. According to reports by ESPN Paul's ideal destination would be playing for the New York Knicks. Sadly for the Hornets the Knicks have very few attractive pieces to offer the Hornets in return for their superstar point guard. This is where Otis Smith and the Orlando Magic need to step in. Smith needs to go all in and offer anything outside of Dwight Howard to get Paul even if he refuses to sign an extension initially. Orlando has a lot more assets to offer for Paul than the Knicks do including multiple starters (Nelson/Bass/Redick) and young talent (Orton/Anderson). On top of that to sweeten the deal Orlando can even offer to take one of the Hornets more undesirable contracts such as Trevor Ariza or Emeka Okafor as part of a package deal for Paul. I've come up with a hypothetical deal that would send Cp3 to Orlando that is a much more attractive offer than the Knicks can offer.

Orlando receives:

PG- Chris Paul

C/PF- Emeka Okafor

New Orleans receives:

PG- Jameer Nelson

SG- J.J. Redick

SG/SF- Quentin Richardson

C/PF- Daniel Orton

PF/C- Brandon Bass

PF- Ryan Anderson

2012/2013 1st round picks.

In this scenario Orlando acquires the best player involved in the trade and the second star Dwight Howard desires in the form of Chris Paul. New Orleans dumps long term salary in the form of Okafor and acquires 3 potential starters in Nelson/Redick/Bass while also getting the rebuilding process underway with the acquisitions of Anderson, Orton and 2 future first round picks.

Now here comes the reality which may be bittersweet for Orlando fans. A) Chris Paul can decide he doesn't like it in Orlando and he bolts to the Knicks in free agency while leaving Orlando with Okafor's contract and limiting Orlando's ability to acquire a superstar in free agency. B) If Cp3 expresses interest in signing an extension somewhere other than with Knicks to big market teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers Orlando is virtually out of the Cp3 sweepstakes. The Clippers and Lakers both have a lot more assets to offer the Hornets for Paul than Orlando does. Examples being Bynum/Odom/Ebanks from the Lakers and Kaman/Eric Gordon/Eric Bledsoe from the Clippers. So as an Orlando fan you need to hope that Cp3 keeps on his demand for the Knicks and trust in Otis Smith to swoop in and offer the house for Cp3 without the requirement of an extension.