Taylor Smith examines the possibility of a trade involving Chris Paul.
For next season, New Orleans already has over $73 million committed in payroll to their players.
So, clearly, New Orleans (specifically, owner George Shinn) must be extremely interested in cutting a significant amount off of that number.
You may be asking, "The Hornets have several players with high salaries, why shouldn't they just trade those guys without letting Paul leave?"
Frankly, the Hornets' roster isn't oozing with desirable talent.
4 magnificent comments post your own
ticktock6
02/03/10 02:13 PM
"Before all you rabid Hornets fans out there start calling me a moron"
..... too late. I already did when I saw the title. Same old, same old, and it makes as much sense as it ever did.
hornetshype.com #1
Grayson
02/03/10 06:49 PM
Is this guy retarded? Its like he would say, okay the Cavs should trade Lebron!
What an idiot he should stop voicing his opinion
swarmandsting.com/ #2
Mikey
02/04/10 03:32 PM
I had an inclination of just dismissing this story altogether, but I actually heard the guy out. He actually makes a good arguement, but what he neglects to mention is that both Peja's and Mo Pete's contracts expire next season. That's close to $21 million coming off the books for the '11-'12 season. The Hornets are not going to contend for a championship this season or next, so there's no need for the front office to make a knee-jerk reaction for cost-cutting purposes. You don't even know where the salary tax threshold will be next season anyway. There are other, more creative cost-cutting measures that the Hornets can do to get under the tax next season without trading away their best player.
Question for this Mr. Smith: The Jazz are over the tax too. So in your opinion, using the same logic you used in this article, should they trade Deron Williams?
#3
MaxALM
02/04/10 05:46 PM
Here's what I posted on Mr. Taylor Smith's 'thought-provoking' article:
This is nothing new for us Hornets fans. We've heard it all many weeks before this. It goes away once they start winning again, and comes back when they are losing (and also now that CP3 is out for a while). So yes, you are a moron. Sure, they may get some good, immediate talent and cap relief with the types of trades you are proposing. That might get the Hornets to be a fringe-contender, at best, within the next year. That'll probably be the best it'll get with that scenario, and that's it. It'll be like the 2007-2008 Hornets all over again, where they get so close, yet so far away, and then it's back to square one.
As you agree, the best point guard in the game is Chris Paul. He's a franchise player. 24 years old. Future Hall of Famer. He is only going to get better. So we should trade him away, along with the bad contracts, because we all have to pee really bad and can't hold it in for another season after this one? CP3 essentially saved basketball in New Orleans. Once Peja and Mo-Pete come off the books, which really isn't THAT far away, they will have the money to sign a true talent that can put the Hornets into true-contention, not barely-almost-there-contention. All the Hornets need to do is keep CP patient enough until that day comes, because it will come before it's too late.
Also, if LeBron James had a few years left on his contract, would everybody be saying that the Cavs need to trade LeBron because they haven't won a championship yet?? NO.
#4