In Bill Simmons’ mega-super-duper-mega-mega mailbag today, he talks a little about the potential Chris Paul trade. He mentions teams that actually have the means to pull it off. Orlando, Portland, Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City. Wait, what?
Yep, Simmons proposes this trade, which sends Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison, Nenad Krstic’s bald spot, Daequan Cook, Byron Mullens and two first round picks for Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor.
His justification: “So if they’re really trading him — and by the way, he wanted out five weeks ago — we’re about to find out what’s important to Mr. Paul. If he wants to win titles, he pushes for Oklahoma City or Orlando. If he wants to be famous in a big market, play D’Antoni Ball and throw alley-oops to Amare Stoudemire as MSG goes bonkers, he pushes for New York. Either way, I think he’s gone.”
Now obviously, OKC isn’t dealing for CP3. For whatever reason, Oklahomans have these delusions about Paul loving OKC so much that he’d basically be willing to play here for free. Yes, we all enjoyed Chris Paul while he was here. Without him and the excitement he brought, we probably don’t have a team. But he’s not coming here. We know this. It. Won’t. Happen. Read more…
Commentary
Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook
No, I’m not talking about the three Thunder players some already identify with that. I’m talking about Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant. Whoa, what?
Tom Haberstroh writing for ESPN.com tells us more:
But as long as we’re using our wildest imaginations, can we design a more potent three-headed monster than James-Wade-Bosh? Actually, we can.
Employing the star-studded template of a point guard, wing scorer and big man, imagine this triumvirate: Paul, Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard in Oklahoma City. Collectively, again using Paul’s 2008-09 injury-free season, this group would edge the Miami trio with a total of 78.7 wins.
The scary thing? Depending on how the new collective bargaining agreement shakes out, it could be a viable scenario down the road. Howard and Paul each control their destiny in the summer of 2012, as they have player options for the 2012-13 season. Should the two opt out of their respective contracts with Orlando and New Orleans, the potential is there for a more powerful union than the one we just witnessed.
To be sure, there’s a difference between a plausible scenario and a realistic one. It’s hard to imagine Paul and Howard leaving money on the table to make the trio happen; the owners will try to bargain for a harder, lower salary cap in the imminent meetings with the Player’s Association. A slice in spending power would all but prohibit Paul and Howard joining Durant in Oklahoma City.
Still, we can dream right? Especially when one just became a reality.
Other
Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant
(This was written Friday, shortly after the Byron Scott firing. But it might not could have run at a better time. A lot of folks are split on the Thunder’s current point guard, so this will likely further the discussion. And PLEASE remember, it’s just that: a discussion.)
By J.G. Marking
Special to Daily Thunder
With the team’s horrible 3-8 start, with the recent firing of Byron Scott done BEHIND Chris Paul’s back, only the Hornets superstar player and the best point guard in the world and the face of their franchise, and with the Thunder holding a veritable smorgasbord of trading chips, draft picks and salary cap space to play with, one can’t help but ask the question that we’re all honestly wondering:
Can Chris Paul ever be traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder?
Now let me preface this by saying it would absolutely kill me to lose the players it would take to make this deal happen (you’re still my boy, Westbrook!). But when you have the chance to take a player that would instantly make everyone on your team two times better at playing basketball than they are now, a player who absolutely loves your small-market community (even still owns a home in the Oklahoma City metro) and is, without question, an annual MVP candidate and is STILL ONLY 24 YEARS OLD (turns 25 in May of 2010), don’t you have to pull the trigger and pull it hard?”
But the question remains… could he ever be conceivably traded to the Thunder? And all I’ll leave you with before the jump is this: Yes. Read more…
Commentary
Chris Paul, Trade Talk
