Originally posted by LA9erFan:
You guys who are saying this is impossible are missing the point. Can someone like the Hornets get something better than Gasol in return for CP3? Of course. Can they get something better than Gasol in return for CP3 from a team that CP3 wants to go to? That's a different ball game. Hoov...he's not going to end up in Boston because he's already said that he won't sign an extension there. Why trade Rondo to rent CP3 for a year and then lose him.
Reports are that he wants to go to the Knicks, Lakers, or Magic (to team up with Howard). Can you think of a better offer than Gasol for CP3 from those teams, assuming that Howard's not involved? Maybe Amare, although playing with Melo & Amare is reportedly why CP3 wants to go there in the first place.
4ML makes the best point regarding why CP3 won't be traded to the Lakers...at least not yet. It's the ownership deal. The Lakers are gonna go into the season with a relatively similar roster to last year.
We're also about to sign Jason Kapono. (whoopty-doo)
I get what you are saying, but now that there are teams like BOS, HOU, DAL willing to trade for him without an extension, then this becomes a moot point. Paul is not going to be able to dictate where he is traded to now that the one big hurdle has been removed. A deal with BOS centered around Rondo is better value than a deal with LAL and a 31 year old Pau. Now in regards to Howard, I don't know where he would agree to resign. I do know that there are far better deals out there to be had. For instance, I think Lopez and 2 1sts is a much better deal, and I think there is a good chance he would resign with NJ due to the Williams factor. LAC are another team that could meet his LA desires, compensate ORL with good young talent along with cap relief and still have the $ to sign Paul outright in the offseason. Maybe if this was a couple years ago I would concede that a deal centered around Bynum for Howard would be a good starting point. But the fact is that Bynum has proven to have fragile knees at a young age, and is just downright overrated in, IMO. The luster has worn off. I think there is a much higher chance that Howard would sign an extension with other teams, thus making it much easier for ORL to make a better deal with other teams not named the Lakers.
[ Edited by Hoovtrain on Dec 6, 2011 at 9:37 AM ]