I looked it up. Some sources say Paul gets 4 years, $74 million instead of 5 years, $100 million.
Theoretically Paul could get another 18-19 mil in a following year from New York once the 4 year one runs out.
So big picture....it's 5 years, $93 mil versus 5 years, $100 mil. It's only really a $7 million difference. Probably even less.
I was going to suggest that New Orleans sticks it to Paul by refusing to trade him. But they'd only screw him out of $7 million.
In the end, New Orleans will trade Paul to New York for one or two s**tty late first round picks and nothing else. Simply because Paul will refuse to sign an extension with another team and so New Orleans has no leverage in any trade.
He's basically holding them hostage.
New Orleans can either refuse to trade Chris Paul, force him to wait another year to sign in New York, and cost him $7 million.
Or they can trade him for s**tty first round picks.
[ Edited by crzy on Dec 2, 2011 at 2:32 PM ]