Chad Ford: Trade for Paul was very close

[OSUBlazerfan]

Chad Ford, ESPN Insider:

The Blazers got close to a deal with the Hornets last week that would've sent Andre Miller, Joel Przybilla, Nicolas Batum, Jerryd Bayless and the 22nd pick to NO for Paul before Jeff Bower pulled out of the deal saying that their owner wasn't ready to trade Paul. The trade they made on draft night got them out of the luxury tax, so that's no longer the issue. The issue is whether Paul is no unhappy enough to force a trade. Personally I think the Hornets can do better than that for Paul, but it's a viable deal.

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dimelive-100701/daily-dime-live

 

[SlyPokerDog]

In related news, KP almost made the trade that would have saved his job.

 

[alex42083]

That would've been AMAZING... Paul, Roy, Aldridge and Oden.. Damn.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Looks like Quick was right about something...

 

[illmatic99]

Ugh.

I wonder if we can resuscitate it.

 

[hasoos]

The question is, will the Blazers make another run at it?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

The question is, will the Blazers make another run at it?

They have to give it a shot....i would be calling every.single.day.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

"UNPOSSIBLE! THE HORNEST WOULD NEVER TRADE PAUL! LETS JUST GIVE UP!"
\

 

[hasoos]

They have to give it a shot....i would be calling every.single.day.

The best thing that can happen right now is that the folks Shinn is looking at selling to continue to balk and negotiate rather than close the deal. The more they do that, the closer Shinn moves to moving Paul.

 

[B-Roy]

"UNPOSSIBLE! THE HORNEST WOULD NEVER TRADE PAUL! LETS JUST GIVE UP!"
\

And in the end, they didn't.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The draft that we executed looks like the kind of thing that would have been done after that deal was consumated, not before.

Would have left us with:
pg: Paul, Johnson, Mills
sg: Roy, Rudy?
sf: Webster?, Babbitt?, free agency signing
pf: LMA, Dante, Howard?
c: Oden, Camby, Pendergraph

 

[Nikolokolus]

The best thing that can happen right now is that the folks Shinn is looking at selling to continue to balk and negotiate rather than close the deal. The more they do that, the closer Shinn moves to moving Paul.

Actually the best thing that can happen is Chris Paul hears that Brandon and LMA weren't part of the deal that was going to send him to PDX and he demands a trade (with Portland being his preferred destination).

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

And in the end, they didn't.

so the Hornets will never trade Chris Paul...ever?

 

[noknobs]

And in the end, they didn't.

I was under the impression we were still at the beginning.

 

[maxiep]

The draft that we executed looks like the kind of thing that would have been done after that deal was consumated, not before.

Would have left us with:
pg: Paul, Johnson, Mills
sg: Roy, Rudy?
sf: Webster?, Babbitt?, free agency signing
pf: LMA, Dante, Howard?
c: Oden, Camby, Pendergraph

Which is why I'm convinced that this deal will be revisited after July 8th. In fact, the actions of the Blazers in regards to free agency seems to point to this deal going forward. Also, very interesting that Rudy wasn't a part of that deal and that we weren't taking back one of their bad contracts.

I actually think that's pretty decent value for Paul. They get cap relief and upside in Batum and Bayless. Perfect for a rebuilding team. I'd throw another couple of firsts their way to get that done.

 

[B-Roy]

so the Hornets will never trade Chris Paul...ever?

Ask them.

 

[Ed O]

Gosh. That would be a pretty great trade, as much as I like Batum.

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Which is why I'm convinced that this deal will be revisited after July 8th. In fact, the actions of the Blazers in regards to free agency seems to point to this deal going forward. Also, very interesting that Rudy wasn't a part of that deal and that we weren't taking back one of their bad contracts.

I actually think that's pretty decent value for Paul. They get cap relief and upside in Batum and Bayless. Perfect for a rebuilding team. I'd throw another couple of firsts their way to get that done.

As we've seen with this owner and management team nothing really ever seems to move in a logical or sensible fashion ... we'll see.

 

[B-Roy]

Which is why I'm convinced that this deal will be revisited after July 8th. In fact, the actions of the Blazers in regards to free agency seems to point to this deal going forward. Also, very interesting that Rudy wasn't a part of that deal and that we weren't taking back one of their bad contracts.

I actually think that's pretty decent value for Paul. They get cap relief and upside in Batum and Bayless. Perfect for a rebuilding team. I'd throw another couple of firsts their way to get that done.

Good luck negotiating without a GM.

 

[LittleAlex]

Gosh. That would be a pretty great trade, as much as I like Batum.

Ed O.

Exceedingly one sided.

So yeah, a great trade for Portland and a kick in the balls for Hornets fans.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Exceedingly one sided.

So yeah, a great trade for Portland and a kick in the balls for Hornets fans.

those have never happened before. *cough* KG to the celts *cough* Gasol to the L*kers.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Actually the best thing that can happen is Chris Paul hears that Brandon and LMA weren't part of the deal that was going to send him to PDX and he demands a trade (with Portland being his preferred destination).

Exactly. I don't know how much pull Paul has as far as picking his team, but the huge superstars seem to pull it off and CP is pretty high up there.

This whole thread kills me and is like one big tease . . . it sounded so close. But now, I can see Paul demanding a trade and some east coast team that missed out on the free agency sweepstakes gives up more than the Blazers to get him.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

when's the CP3 Rally!

GO BLAZERS!

 

[Masbee]

Actually the best thing that can happen is Chris Paul hears that Brandon and LMA weren't part of the deal that was going to send him to PDX and he demands a trade (with Portland being his preferred destination).

Exactly. Wasn't there was a quote from Paul recently where when he was pushed said "sure, I would like to play with Brandon and LaMacus, but if I got traded there, New Orleans has to get a player back, so what's the point." I guess he assumed that on of the Portland big guns HAD to be involved if N.O. moved him to Portland. And he is right - is there a huge talent gain if something like that happened?

But, if he thinks a deal could be done that let's him play with dudes he admires, he MIGHT (probably not, but there is a sliver of hope here) get on the phone to his agent and go into full-press trade demand mode. Like most good players, Paul doesn't want to move for moving's sake, doesn't want to sully his legacy by becoming a "hired-gun" type sports star. But, he also don't want to be stuck with a franchise that can't get it done.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Good luck negotiating without a GM.

But...but....we have Larry "buy my shoes" Miller and Bart "jowels" Kolde! What could possibly go wrong?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

JQuick re-iterates Blazers will make another strong push for Chris Paul

 

[Nikolokolus]

JQuick re-iterates Blazers will make another strong push for Chris Paul

They'd better, otherwise we've got 7 guards on the roster: Miller, Bayless, Mills, Johnson, Williams, Rudy, Roy and only one of them is a true point guard.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

JQuick re-iterates Blazers will make another strong push for Chris Paul

Just to clarify...he said he thinks thats what they're going to do.

 

[Masbee]

Gosh. That would be a pretty great trade, as much as I like Batum.

Ed O.

Batum is one of my favorite players in the NBA. If he leaves the Blazers, I likely watch games of whatever team he is on.

But, if we can get Chris Paul, for what essentially boils down to Batum, Bayless, some future picks and cap space - DAAAAAAAAM - you have to do it. Fact is, that deal is too good to be true, which is why it didn't happen.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

BATUM WILL BE VERY POPULAR IN FRENCH-INFLUENCED NEW ORLEANS!