New Orleans Hornets may package Darren Collison

• hoops23

  

  ........The Hornets remain a leaguewide curiosity because, even after last season's virtual giveaways of Rasual Butler and Devin Brown to avoid paying luxury tax, New Orleans is back in tax territory with a projected payroll of more than $70 million in 2010-11.
  
  So …
  
  Rival executives will continue to try to convince the Hornets to make Chris Paul available in trades, pointing to the fact that Williams can simply slide the promising Darren Collison and his modest $1.4 million salary into that spot. When those teams get shot down, look for the Hornets -- based on the hints we've received from more than one exec -- to make Collison available as long as the interested party is willing to take back the cap-clogging contract of Emeka Okafor, James Posey or Peja Stojakovic with Paul's backup........

  http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-freeagency-100612/coaching-carousel
  
  A lot of us thought CP3would be the guy, in order to save money, but that maybe not the case.
• jordo212000

  

  The team has a hard enough time drawing as it is down in New Orleans. Why on Earth would they trade Chris Paul? Collison is solid, but Paul is a top 5 PG talent who also happens to be marketable. It goes back to the old adage that you do not trade superstars because you cannot get equal value.
  
  Package Collison with one of the craptastic contracts and get better at another position.
• hoops23

  

  Because it's unlikely CP3 signs back with NO, therefore you try to get something for him in return. The Hornets were hurting BIG TIME financially. It's not always about getting equal talent, we've seen that 1,000,000 times before in the NBA. Most of the time, it's about saving your bottomline...
  
  HOWEVER,
  
  The Hornets have a prospective Billionaire looking to buy a majority stake into the team, so money may no longer be an issue here soon.
• hoops23

  

  Anyway, this is definitely something I look at if I'm Chris Grant and Dan Gilbert.
  
  Collison has superstar potential and pretty much played like one last season. Good offensively, has great court vision and is a terrific defender.
• jordo212000

  

  hoops23;388148 wrote:Because it's unlikely CP3 signs back with NO, therefore you try to get something for him in return. The Hornets were hurting BIG TIME financially. It's not always about getting equal talent, we've seen that 1,000,000 times before in the NBA. Most of the time, it's about saving your bottomline...

  
  Trading Chris Paul away will not help their bottomline. They may think it might, but fans want to see stars. Corporate sponsors don't pay lots and lots of money to watch Darren Collison and Emeka Okafor.
  
  Here's what they should do. Try and package Collison and a big contract for another key guy. Once they get that done they need to try and talk him into re-signing. If that fails maybe you then consider dealing him. But I think even then it is pretty dicey. Worst case scenario if they keep him and he doesn't want to come back they can potentially do a sign and trade.
  
  You don't however throw up the white flag before the season and trade Paul away for some spare parts. Let's be honest, the Hornets are going to get back a superstar or anything close to that in return.
• hoops23

  

  Superstars are traded all the time.
  
  I mean, you can act like they're not if you want, fine by me.
  
  I don't see NO trading CP3 yet though, I think they see what they can get in return for Collison (not much if the other team will have to take a salary dump as well)..
  
  But like I mentioned, the prospect of the billionaire owner has things looking better for the Hornets franchise, whether they stay in NO or go elsewhere.
• wes_mantooth

  

  CP3 is great...don't get me wrong, but he is definitely a guy that can be traded. He is not a "ticket seller" like Kobe, Lebron, and Dwade.
• Mulva

  

  wes_mantooth;388278 wrote:CP3 is great...don't get me wrong, but he is definitely a guy that can be traded. He is not a "ticket seller" like Kobe, Lebron, and Dwade.

  
  You're wrong! WRONG WRONG WRONG! Jackass!
• wes_mantooth

  

  Mulva;388283 wrote:Not sure I agree with that. His rookie season, NO was dead last in the NBA in attendance. His 2nd season they were selling out every game (up 4000 fans a game). He didn't have the huge hype coming in, but he established himself pretty immediately and people started coming out to see him.
  
  He was also top 5 in jersey sales a couple of years ago, and still #7 or 8 this year even though he hardly played. It would be a huge mistake by NO to trade him.

  
  GET THAT SHIT OUT OF HERE! Nobody wants to hear an argument backed up with facts...smh
• Mulva

  

  Sorry about that... I edited.
• jordo212000

  

  Mulva;388283 wrote:Not sure I agree with that. His rookie season, NO was dead last in the NBA in attendance. His 2nd season they were selling out every game (up 4000 fans a game). He didn't have the huge hype coming in, but he established himself pretty immediately and people started coming out to see him.
  
  He was also top 5 in jersey sales a couple of years ago, and still #7 or 8 this year even though he hardly played. It would be a huge mistake by NO to trade him.

  
  Exactly.
  
  How many commercials do you see Darren Collison in? Zero. The Hornets aren't going to win anything either way. That's just the way it is. They don't have Kobe, Lebron, D-wade, or the Big 3(4). Thus the only thing they really need to worry about is appeasing their fans and making it look like they are trying. A team with Chris Paul as their "guy" will never win anything in the NBA, but at the same time there are only a handful of guys around the league that can lead their teams to titles; and unfortunately for New Orleans are not going to be in a position to get any of them.
• wes_mantooth

  

  That seems much more convincing....thank you.
• devil1197

  NO just better hope that CP3 doesn't demand a trade to a contender here in the next couple seasons, because then they wouldn't get shit for him. NO will not be a contender with the roster they have and the financial hardships their currently in. Yes, CP3 brings in tickets but he won't care about that as his career starts to get older and older, he'll want to win soon and that wouldn't bode well for NO.
  
  I'd take Collison and Okafor for West/Moon/Telfair or you could switch out Moon with Parker.
• thedynasty1998

  

  The only way they do trade Paul is if he does demand a trade. Then they can save face with the fans while helping their bottom line. You don't just trade stars in the NBA, contrary to what someone said above. I tend to think Paul is slightly overrated, however the perception is that he's a top 2 PG in the NBA and you don't just trade him if you are trying to sell tickets.
• devil1197

  If NO even gets a hint of Paul wanting a trade I'd do it right away so as an organization they have some leverage. But we'll see how that plays out with Paul. I think pretty soon he'll be wanting on a contender.
  
  As far as Collison, if I were Cleveland I'd be on the phone.
• KR1245

  

  devil1197;388334 wrote:NO just better hope that CP3 doesn't demand a trade to a contender here in the next couple seasons, because then they wouldn't get shit for him. NO will not be a contender with the roster they have and the financial hardships their currently in. Yes, CP3 brings in tickets but he won't care about that as his career starts to get older and older, he'll want to win soon and that wouldn't bode well for NO.
  
  I'd take Collison and Okafor for West/Moon/Telfair or you could switch out Moon with Parker.

  I like this idea but Okafors contract worries me a little bit. I didnt realize how much money that guy is owed over the next 4 seasons. Obviosuly, if the Hornets want to inclue Okafor in the trade you have to pull the trigger. I saw where Tyson Chandler might excercise an early termination option. Maybe grab Collison and Posey from NO and than go after Chandler for the MLE.
  
  Changes are coming soon. It seems like Gilbert and Grant want to send Lebron a message. I expect to see the Cavs make a move either before the draft or the FA period.
• devil1197

  Okafor would be a solid addition to our bigs, his contract is large but we have Shaq off the books and then Jamison next season will be an expiring so I am not worried about that.
  
  Cleveland will make a big move, not sure what or when but I have a strange feeling it will happen. This summer has been crazy in the sports department everywhere so anything can happen.
• Sage

  

  Chris Paul was injured this year and it appears that you guys seem to have forgotten that he is the best point guard on the league.
• wes_mantooth

  

  Sage;388394 wrote:Chris Paul was injured this year and it appears that you guys seem to have forgotten that he is the best point guard on the league.

  
  Besides Mo Williams?
• Pick6

  

  Sage;388394 wrote:Chris Paul was injured this year and it appears that you guys seem to have forgotten that he is the best point guard on the league.

  
  quoted for accuracy
• hoops23

  

  I'd still take Deron Williams #1.
  
  CP3 #2
  
  Rondo #3
• sportswizuhrd

  Sage;388394 wrote:Chris Paul was injured this year and it appears that you guys seem to have forgotten that he is the best point guard on the league.

  
  Not just people on here, but pretty much all of the NBA fan base. Williams and Rondo both look great in the playoffs and somehow Paul's value takes a hit(in terms of PG rankings).
• jordo212000

  

  devil1197;388334 wrote: I'd take Collison and Okafor for West/Moon/Telfair or you could switch out Moon with Parker.

  
  Wishful thinking. I would laugh at that offer if I was the Hornets. They can get much better for Collison than 3 reserve players. I don't even think NBA 2k would take this offer seriously.
• thedynasty1998

  

  What the hell would the Hornets take that deal for? Just mind boggling sometimes the perception Cavs fans have of their players.
• ytownfootball

  

  Yeah...I mean who would have thought Jamison could have been had for the #30 pick in the upcoming draft. Trades aren't always done by Spocklike fricken logic. You throw out an offer and see what happens. Not everyone has the basketball acumen as you two.