Since everyone else is doing it.... (Gordon Trade Idea)

[nolaslim213]

So... I don't like the idea of trading Gordon. I think he is a phenomenal player (when healthy), but the problem is that he has trouble staying healthy. We are rumored to be talking to GSW about a Gordon trade. They have interest, and we are listening. They want to pair him with Curry, so I would assume that means Klay Thompson is who they are offering, along with other pieces. I would propose this trade:

Trade

NOP gets: Thompson, Barnes, and Diop

GSW gets: Gordon and Aminu

Charlotte gets: Biedrins + our 2013 1st round pick (lottery protected)
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine/?tradeId=cpa5zab

Logic

We get Thompson (who we have been rumored to be interested in since we were talking to them about the Chris Paul trade). Thompson can stretch the floor, and he is a rising player, but he is shooting under 42% from the field, and I think that is mostly because GS doesn't have any playmakers. Barnes is a rookie with upside, and he is having a below average rookie year, but at least he can stretch the floor with the 3. I think Monty could turn him into a defensive monster. Diop is an expiring, and he allows us to offer the max to any player we want (I'll touch on this down below).

Golden State loves it because they want Gordon. They are the ones rumored to be calling us, and they want to pair him with Curry. Gordon, when healthy, is a great closer and a complete player. They also get rid of Biedrins' contract, so they pretty much break even in terms of cap space, which is a win for them. Gordon makes that team elite.

Charlotte is in rebuilding mode, and a 1st round pick for Diop is pretty great value (even if it is protected). Biedrins turns into an expiring deal next year, so it's not like they are taking on some monster contract. They aren't going anywhere, so this deal makes a lot of sense if you are thinking long-term.

Free Agency

So, now we have floor spacers, we have guys who can run the break, we have a young/energetic team, we have Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson, and we have Monty Williams. These are all very attractive things. With that said, we are an All Star PG away from a legit championship calibre roster, and this is where Chris Paul comes in.

Chris Paul... Yes, the much maligned 6'0 PG who left us for broader pastures. Well, our pastures are pretty friggin broad now, and this roster is extremely attractive to a PG:

PG - Paul, Vasquez
SG - Thompson, Rivers
SF - Barnes, (FA), Miller
PF - Davis, Anderson
C - Lopez, JSmith

Fact - Chris Paul said he still watches every Hornets game, and he said he'll always love this city. His move was simply for the purposes of winning.

Fact - Chris Paul did NOT sign an extension despite Blake Griffin signing a 5 year deal + the Clippers organization begging him to extend. He didn't do it, and that's because he wants to weigh his FA options.

Fact - Chris Paul still talks with Monty on the regular. He has spoken openly about his admiration for him as a coach. He left because Bower screwed him over, and that is who he resented. Now that we have Demps, there is no bad blood.

Fact - LeBron James said he would be very open to playing in Cleveland again once he is done with Miami. I would imagine that, as clean as CP's breakup with NO was, he would feel the same way, especially with the good things he has said about the franchise and the city (insert Pelicans joke).

Fact - Chris Paul and Anthony Davis worked out together during the Olympics, and CP had nothing but great things to say about him. Davis is a future superstar, and players want to play with him. I think the prospect of CP/AD pairing are very intriguing to him, especially when you toss in court spacers like Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes.

In closing, I don't care what anyone says about how unlikely it is that CP returns because it's pure speculation as to what CP will do this off season. That said, I firmly believe that we are high on his list should we have the cap space to sign him outright in FA. The main reasons he left (lack of stability, bad roster, bad coaching, and bad management) have all been fixed, and I know that CP recognizes that we are a superstar away from contention.

***And yes, that is CP in my sig below running to help AD up after he drained that 3.

[FlyGirl]

[nolaslim213]

I know you hate Chris Paul Hunny B, but tell me that isn't a great roster.

By the way, just for salary purposes, these moves (factoring Chris Paul in at the $16.5 million max deal) would bring us up to around $49 million, so we would still have $9 million to spend in FA just to get us up to the soft cap, then we'd have $12 million more to get us up to the hard cap, so we should be able to re-sign most of our guys down the road if we spend wisely.

[bojangles837]

I seriously don't know how to respond to this

[nolaslim213]

I seriously don't know how to respond to this

I believe you just did.

[FlyGirl]

I know you hate Chris Paul Hunny B, but tell me that isn't a great roster.

By the way, just for salary purposes, these moves (factoring Chris Paul in at the $16.5 million max deal) would bring us up to around $49 million, so we would still have $9 million to spend in FA just to get us up to the soft cap, then we'd have $12 million more to get us up to the hard cap, so we should be able to re-sign most of our guys down the road if we spend wisely.

I don't hate him at all. I just don't think he's coming back here, I certainly don't believe everything he says and I certainly would never hold my breath on him coming back here. Even though we have a new owner and better stability, I don't think that dude regrets for one second leaving here.

[nolaslim213]

I don't hate him at all. I just don't think he's coming back here, I certainly don't believe everything he says and I certainly would never hold my breath on him coming back here. Even though we have a new owner and better stability, I don't think that dude regrets for one second leaving here.

Of course he doesn't, and why should he? We wouldn't have this current roster had he not left. There would have been nothing for him here. But looking at this roster now, it's going to be hard for him to pass on talent like this. Just based on pure talent and winning potential alone, we are a big draw for Chris Paul, and I'm really not sure how that is debatable.

[FlyGirl]

Of course he doesn't, and why should he? We wouldn't have this current roster had he not left. There would have been nothing for him here. But looking at this roster now, it's going to be hard for him to pass on talent like this. Just based on pure talent and winning potential alone, we are a big draw for Chris Paul. I'm really not sure how that is debatable.

Ok.

[Nsingh93]

I just don't see GS trading Thompson and Barnes for Gordon and Aminu. Maybe if we included our 1st but that's a big IF

[jgman]

yup

[bojangles837]

why are we giving a first for diop. I don't understand

[Luke's Pelicans]

why are we giving a first for diop. I don't understand

Biedrins, so the hornets wouldn't have to take on Biedrins contract.

anyways CP3 will sign with the clips

[nolaslim213]

I just don't see GS trading Thompson and Barnes for Gordon and Aminu. Maybe if we included our 1st but that's a big IF

Klay Thompson is so overrated on this board it is insane. He had the best game of his life against us, but he is a shooter who is shooting under 42% from the field. His defense isn't very good, and really, what he provides is length, 3-point shooting, and potential. Barnes isn't any better, and he is pure potential at this point. That isn't very much to give up for a fringe-elite player like Gordon. If he stays healthy, he puts that team over the top, and GS is interested in that prospect.

why are we giving a first for diop. I don't understand

We give the 1st to Charlotte so that they take on Biedrins' contract. That opens up $9 million in cap space for us next year.

Biedrins, so the hornets wouldn't have to take on Biedrins contract.

anyways CP3 will sign with the clips

Don't be so sure. He hasn't committed to them yet, and their roster is full of old, declining, patchwork players. LAC is a horrible long-term option.

[nolaslim213]

Lamar Odom - 33, declining
Caron Butler - 32, declining
Willie Green - 31, declining
Matt Barnes - 32, declining
Jamal Crawford - 33, 4 year deal, will probably start declining next year
Chauncey Billups - 36, nearly out the league
Grant Hill - 40, nearly out the league

The only hope that franchise has is Blake Griffin, and he is super injury prone. DeAndre Jordan is making over $10 million dollars, but he is only playing 24 minutes per game because he fouls too much and can't hit FTs. He is also just a dumb player. Bledsoe is their best young prospect, but he plays PG like CP, so he is a backup for them. Seriously, there is no upside to the LAC franchise moving forward.

Compare that to our young, up-and-coming roster, and it's a clear choice IMO. Obviously, I'm biased, but it's a logical conclusion.

[bojangles837]

i get everything your saying, but thats cp's and blakes's team, and theyll do what it takes to win with those players at the helm

[jgman]

if you factor in the amount of 3's he takes, Klay is a better shooter than you would think at .416 from the field. Almost half of his shots come from 3, he's .389 from behind the arc and about .436 inside the arc which is pretty good shooting for a sophomore at only 23 years old, he is averaging 16.4 a game(exactly what gordon is averaging by the way) and he doesn't miss half the season, not to mention he is a much better rebounder. Gordon is probably more of a playmaker/creator while klay looks to be more of a spot up shooter judging by the amount of 3's he takes, but the production is there and room for growth as well. Barnes is a 20 year old rookie who is doing fine and looks to be a bright star in the future, super athletic, could be a great defender and has a nice shot for a rookie sf, .366 from 3 and .450 from the field. Trading them both, two players with almost certain bright futures, Barnes with a larger ceiling I think than klay, for a very large "?" in Eric Gordon, and a back up in Aminu. I just don't think we could get them to buy into Eric Gordon's future based on his value right now enough to give up those two great aspects, it isn't realistic. And to add this in, idk where HornetsGuru got that they were in win now mode(from another thread), but to me, they have a 24 year old curry, and 20 year old barnes, and a 23 year old Thompson in their starting line up and no one starting over 30, the only player over 30 on their team is Richard Jefferson. David Lee is 29 same as Bogut but Lee is having his best year so he is at least still in his prime and has a few years left of being dependable and Bogut hasn't had an injury free one yet but he's signed at least through next year

[jgman]

Klay Thompson is so overrated on this board it is insane. He had the best game of his life against us, but he is a shooter who is shooting under 42% from the field. His defense isn't very good, and really, what he provides is length, 3-point shooting, and potential. Barnes isn't any better, and he is pure potential at this point. That isn't very much to give up for a fringe-elite player like Gordon. If he stays healthy, he puts that team over the top, and GS is interested in that prospect.

And if this is true why do we do this trade? Is the whole point to make us more attractive to CP? Because This is ridiculous if you are suggesting we should blow up our entire trade with the clippers giving away Gordon and Aminu for what you yourself have described as "nothing but potential," meant in a negative way it seems in your post, to get a chance to get Chris Paul back.

[42]

Klay stacks up about like Aminu without the rebounding, but with the ability to stretch the floor at times.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NOH/2013.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...thompkl01.html

[Kurgan]

Why would chris paul want to come here?

[da ThRONe]

CP3 left for more reasons then winning. He was happy to go to the Clippers after all. Guys like Paul, James, Wade, Bosh etc will have some amount of success where ever they play. Nope CP3's departure was about market.

[WhoDatChristian]

I agree with NSINGH93. That would be a steal in our favor. If Gordon didn't have injury issues, then yes I can see that being a realistic trade. However with Gordon's track record for injuries and his bad attitude, there is no way GS would do this deal. I would do a Thompson straight up deal straight up for Gordon.

[jdmcuc]

I agree with NSINGH93. That would be a steal in our favor. If Gordon didn't have injury issues, then yes I can see that being a realistic trade. However with Gordon's track record for injuries and his bad attitude, there is no way GS would do this deal. I would do a Thompson straight up deal straight up for Gordon.

Ive seen people say Gordon has a bad attitude. I dont understand why people would say that..

[All Metro]

I would love this deal.

Ive seen people say Gordon has a bad attitude. I dont understand why people would say that..

[AD23forMVP]

Golden State wouldn't do it.

[UNO Gracias]

I like this trade. It seems reasonable seeing how everyone wins. However to get all parties involved out draft pick would probably have to be top 3 protected instead of just the vague " lottery protected".

But yes with that lineup we win 55% of our games.