http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...lks-chris-paul

I dont see how he can possibly still go to the Lakers. The Clipper deal is so much better. Amazing for the Hornets **** for the Clippers. Keep Gordon and hope the Timberwolves are garbage this year. You will have the best young core in the NBA, if not the best a very close second to OK city.

I know this sounds crazy but I think MN will be better than people think. That doesnt mean they will be good but there might be 4 or 5 worse teams

Still gets them in the lottery.

He wants out, but he isn't willing to sign long term with the Clippers, probably even the Lakers. That is going to greatly reduce his value.

Though might get them in the latter part of the lottery.

Can't believe Clippers gave up Gordon AND MN pick. Gordon gets screwed by Stern, stuck in NO now. But hey at least the Hornets have enough players to field a team now.

I think the Hornets certainly made out better this way.

Agreed

Though the NBA (office/Stern) comes out of this looking terrible. Of course Gordon will probably be bolting in 2 years as well. As for the vaunted draft pick the Kings drafted 1 and 3 in recent years, had one of those picks win the RoY and they are still a weak team.

This is such a good trade for the Hornets. Clippers are insane IMO. Paul is clearly a superstar, but is there enough around them to contend for a Championship? I say no shot. They can contend for a playoff spot, but so do 20 other teams. The Hornets potentially got 2 stars out of this. Gordon and the pick. I predict that pick ends up being a top 3 pick.

So the Lakers come out of this whole ordeal with no Chris Paul and they traded away the best sixth man in the league for a draft pick?

Ouch.

If your a Laker fan you gotta hope they are making a move on Dwight Howard. Gasol and Bynum has to be better then Lopez and a first round pick. If your taking Dwight your taking Hedo's contract. Maybe thats why Oden was basicley given away.

Even if that is their plan, it didn't address any of their concerns. They were picked apart by strong guard play in the playoffs. So even if they get Howard, it's probably going to be at the expense of at least Bynum and maybe Gasol.

So you gain Howard, Hedo and a draft pick for Odom, Gasol and Bynum and you are still old at guard. Plus they lost Shannon Brown to free agency, but they signed Josh McRoberts so I guess all is well. :rolleyes:

Not Mitch Cupchack's finest off season.

I agree with you. Of the 2 Paul filled a need. Fisher is old and Steve Blake stinks. But now it feels like they have to go after Howard hard. They share an arena with the Clippers, are the Lakers really going to let the Clippers be the story? I know it feels like a lot Gasol and Bynum, but I feel like Gasol is soft and has always been soft. Your not winning anything with just Gasol. Bynum is just risky with his injury issues. If you can give those guys up for Howard, at least in 5 years or whenever Kobe is done you have the next cornerstone of your franchise. Its just hard for me to believe the Lakers will sit back and let the Clippers get a superstar. If Orlando was strongly considering Howard for Lopez and the pick, then Gasol and Bynum have to be better. Or maybe the Lakers sit chilly. I still think the Clippers gave up way to much and risked there future on making this move happen. If Paul leaves in 2 years, then your going likely lose Blake also. Gordons gone now and that pick is gone. They gave up a ton.

Lakers going after Baron Davis?

Chris Paul: Worse to Worser

What is kind of unsaid is that Kobe is starting to slip with age and the window of opportunity for them is narrowing. This was a really bad crop of FA's but the Odom trade was supposedly the precursor to something different but what if not Howard? And honestly I do whatever I can to get Howard but between Howard's contract, Hedus and Kobe's there isnt much space left and they arent going to have appealing draft picks either. Basically they are the West coast Knicks.

He is fatter than me

And then there is this

With Odom reportedly due $8.9 million this year and a partially guaranteed $8.2 million next season, the move appeared to be a salary dump and could mark a new era of cost-cutting with Jim Buss running the team owned by his father, Jerry, according to SI.com.


“I think the Buss kids are now running the team, for the most part, and they’re trying to make as much money as they can,” a source told SI.com. “Everything is changing there.”

Kobe requests a trade by Feb. 20th.

1/9

The reports of Stern's insanity are quieted. I think he just got a better deal for the Hornets than they were getting in first deal. I like it for both sides. At first, I thought LA was giving up too much but after looking deeper, I like it for them. Hate they had to give up the draft pick but like that they got Paul to pick up the option and keep cap space.