In this rush to find ways to get CP3 to NY, the biggest decider in this could actually be the Lakers! They're the ones with the assets to make a deal for either player and it mostly likely will only be one of them. So it's important to the Knicks which player the Lakers decide to go after.
So far only Paul has offered himself up, but you just know that it won't be long for someone makes a call to Orlando about Howard. This is the time to do it, cuz going the whole season with that hanging in the air is an awful thing for a franchise and few want to go thru that anymore.
Lakers could pair Bryant and Howard and be right back in business. IMO the Lakers going after CP3 doesn't do as much for them and they'd have to give up loads of assets just the same. Gasol is againg and they aren't in love with Bynum. Howard is young and strong and can be the next in line of Lakers greats. Mikan, Chamberlain, Jabbar, Shaq...
This is the one way that could actually create a chance for NY to still land CP3.
If your LA you trade for whoever you can get. Kobe is 33 yrs old and he isn't getting any younger.
Pau is 31. A fundamentally strong player still has 2-3 years left.
Pau, Kobe and cp3 is a very strong combo. Potential chemistry gains.
A front line of Howard and Pau would be tough to defend.
Question is is Bynum a desirable commodity given his knee problems?
AnubisADL wrote:If your LA you trade for whoever you can get. Kobe is 33 yrs old and he isn't getting any younger.
The point is that they CAN GET either Paul or Howard. The Lakers have enough assets to make deals. So if you were the Lakers do you go hard after Howard or CP3? Let's not forget that CP3 has Knee issues and Howard so far has been a rock. Also the Lakers history is that they win titles when they have a strong Center. I'm only guessing that Howard would be very attractive to them to continue their lineage of great NBA Centers.
It's hard to know if Bynum would be an acceptable player to Orl. The only question being is he over his health issues or not. When Healthy Bynum is a beast. The Lakers also wouldn't have to change their style of player, which is a non ball dominant guard style of offense. Adding CP3 completely changes what they'll be doing as an offense. They'd have to change to a ball dominant PG style of offense. It's unclear what their plans are. With Howard the Lakers can continue doing what they do without a serious shift. All of this is very interesting.
I have always been a believer that when a star big becomes available you have to take him unless the other option is a Kobe like guard.
If I am the lakers I get Howard, win 1-2 more with Kobe and then build around Howard while Kobe finishes his career. It would be the second coming of Shaq-Kobe and hopefully with similar results.
Chris Paul is great but I dont think he is the same type of player. He doesnt want to be the man and he probably is better off complementing as a supporting player where Howard can be a building block.
Either way they are in a good position.
There are a couple things here that muddy the waters for me. For one the NBA owns the Hornets and the economic outlook of New Orleans itself. Of course they are always willing to sell the franchise but how does moving Paul affect them? It would seem more likely for them to miss the playoffs at the least.
It's a bit odd that Demps is reported to have had a '[url="http://www.fromthebaseline.com/home-mainmenu-1/blogs/4211-espn-hornets-may-deal-chris-paul"]sitdown[/url]' with Paul Wasn't aware that was allowed yet.
The deals with other teams aren't as clear cut as some would have us think. CP3 still has some influence in these deals by virtue of his stating he will not sign and extension with just any team the Hornets can get a great deal with.
The Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks have shown the most interest in trading for Paul, according to sources briefed on the talks. One source told ESPN.com that virtually every team in the league has called, including the Los Angeles Lakers, but the source echoed a Yahoo! Sports report from earlier Monday that the Hornets and Lakers have yet to seriously discuss specifics.The Clippers and Warriors, sources say, are the Hornets' preferred trade partners, but both California teams have hesitations because they want to be sure that Paul is committed to stay before surrendering some of the prized assets that New Orleans is chasing.
One source close to the process told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne that the Clippers have informed New Orleans that young guard Eric Gordon will not be included in any deal because Paul hasn't given L.A. any assurances that he's willing to sign with the Clippers for the long-term.
The Hornets also have strong interest in Lakers center Andrew Bynum, but the Lakers lack the additional young players and draft picks to sweeten a deal. The Clippers, however, possess players such as restricted free agent DeAndre Jordan, Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe and an unprotected 2012 first-round pick from Minnesota. It is also widely presumed that the Lakers prefer to include Bynum in the trade offer they're expected to extend to the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard.
THis is a no brainer and it doesn't matter what team we're talking about. Dwight Howard is the most dominant, most unique talent in the league. CP3 is the best PG in the league but there other elite level PG talents.
No one comes close to DHoward on both sides of the ball. There is him and then there is everyone else.
Killa4luv wrote:THis is a no brainer and it doesn't matter what team we're talking about. Dwight Howard is the most dominant, most unique talent in the league. CP3 is the best PG in the league but there other elite level PG talents.No one comes close to DHoward on both sides of the ball. There is him and then there is everyone else.
It's why I think LA would prefer to restock their franchise with Howard over CP3! Howard is a workhorse and he's fully healthy. CP3 is gonna need help to take some pressure off of him and allow him to stay on the court. I'd have to think the Lakers would want to go after Howard more than CP3. If your going to spend assets why not go after the most dominant bigman in the game? It fits what the Lakers blueprint has been for years now.
nixluva wrote:Killa4luv wrote:THis is a no brainer and it doesn't matter what team we're talking about. Dwight Howard is the most dominant, most unique talent in the league. CP3 is the best PG in the league but there other elite level PG talents.No one comes close to DHoward on both sides of the ball. There is him and then there is everyone else.
It's why I think LA would prefer to restock their franchise with Howard over CP3! Howard is a workhorse and he's fully healthy. CP3 is gonna need help to take some pressure off of him and allow him to stay on the court. I'd have to think the Lakers would want to go after Howard more than CP3. If your going to spend assets why not go after the most dominant bigman in the game? It fits what the Lakers blueprint has been for years now.
All 30 teams in the league would rather have Howard than CP3. All 30 would also feel fortunate to have either and would immediately jump at the opportunity to have either.
well, rumor has it that the lakers are trying to get both. if that is true then the nba is a wrap for them.
The Lakers can't get both.
What kind of question is this? Paul or Howard? When was the last time there was an elite point guard winning any title in this league? Magic? Isiah?
Howard maybe as good as Shaq was in his prime. He is younger, no major injury concerns and trading Gasol, Bynum is a no brainer for the Lakers. Dominant Big Men win championships and you can lock in the best big for the prime of his career. Or you can get a point guard with multiple injuries nearing 30?
jazz74 wrote:well, rumor has it that the lakers are trying to get both. if that is true then the nba is a wrap for them.
Orlando cant wait to get a injury prone Bynum and the Hornets cant wait to get a 31 yr old Gasol to build around. LOL.
AnubisADL wrote:jazz74 wrote:well, rumor has it that the lakers are trying to get both. if that is true then the nba is a wrap for them.
Orlando cant wait to get a injury prone Bynum and the Hornets cant wait to get a 31 yr old Gasol to build around. LOL.
well, its better than getting nothing. and they are much better assets than what we have. another team we have to look out for is the clips. they have the most tradeable assets as well as a star that people want to play with. they are also in pursuit.
Not even close: Lakers would take Superman over CP3 every day of the week.
