When the possibility of the Portland Trail Blazers making a bid on Paul was brought to him, a source said, Paul’s reaction was simple: Why would I want to go there if they have to trade LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) or Brandon Roy(notes) to get me? I’d want to play with those players.
That’s the problem with trying to trade Paul. For one of the best point guards in the NBA, the Hornets would want no less than a young All-Star caliber player, a starter and draft picks. Only then, what kind of gutted core would await Paul with his new team?
Portland has bordered on tampering with Paul for two years now, and it’s never been much of a secret within the Hornets’ organization that the Blazers have gone to great lengths to make Paul aware of how badly they want him. It didn’t go unnoticed when Blazers president Larry Miller – a former Nike executive who had dealings with Paul – cozied up to the Hornets star on New Orleans’ trips to the Rose Garden. It is what it is, but most agree the Blazers have been merciless in trying to get into Paul’s ear – and those around him – to convince him to create a stir and force his way out.
