Chris Paul just can't seem to catch a break. He cannot end up in Los Angeles, whether it be with the Lakers or the Clippers.
Sources close to the deal say that the league-owned Hornets were shot down by the Clippers, after it appeared that the Hornets were wanting too much for their All-Star point guard, who is arguably the best player at his position.
New Orleans was apparently asking the Clippers for Minnesota's unprotected first-round pick, point guard Eric Bledsoe, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and shooting guard Eric Gordon, one of the best up-and-coming players in the NBA, for Paul.
The Clippers thought of the deal to be "too steep", even after Paul told the Clippers that he would accept the option for the 2012-12 season, meaning that he would be with the team for at least two years before entering free agency, if he chose to do so.
Paul has recently expressed interest in playing with former No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin, who is widely considered to be one of the most prolific players in the NBA.It was not immediately known if the Hornets and Clippers would still continue to try and make a deal, especially after the Lakers backed out almost a week ago of a possible re-submitted trade.
Last Thursday, commissioner David Stern vetoed a trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers in exchange for Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The Hornets, in turn, would have sent Gasol to the Rockets for shooting guard Kevin Martin, power forward Luis Scola, point guard Goran Dragic and an unprotected first-round pick that the Rockets acquired from the Knicks.
The Hornets are currently owned by the league, after former owner David Shinn sold the team for an estimated $300 million in December 2010.
New Orleans is very persistent in trying to unload Paul, as they do not want to go through the same thing the Nuggets did last season when Carmelo Anthony wanted out. Denver ultimately dealt Anthony to the Knicks in the middle of the season, after the "saga" dragged on for quite a while. The Hornets are trying to avoid that and deal the point guard before the season begins on Christmas Day.
Orlando is also trying to do the same thing with Dwight Howard, one of the best players currently in the NBA. Although they have not officially come to a deal with any team, Howard has expressed his interest in leaving the team that he was drafted by in 2004. Rumors have circulated that Howard wants to go to the Nets and has requested a trade to the future Brooklyn-bound team. He has also been interested in playing with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles and it appears the Lakers could pursue him heavily, that being the reason they backed out of negotiations with the Hornets after Stern vetoed the deal.
It is very likely however, that neither Dwight Howard or Chris Paul will play a full season with their current team and both should be dealt before the trade deadline. Two questions remains for both of them: Where will they go and what will their current teams get for them?
Only time will tell.
