[I May Be WrongParticipant]

According to Marc Stein, a principle deal is in the works. Both sides have agreed. via twitter

[I May Be WrongParticipant]

 Gordan, Kaman, Aminu AND the Minny pick involved in the deal for CP3

[MagikKnickParticipant]

 WOW.

That team just might suck tho, CP3, Blake and a PG overload, Billups, Foye, Bledsoe, and Mo

 

There gonna be alot of follow-up moves here…

 

[torontoraptors10Participant]

Source confirms that Clippers are getting close to acquiring Hornets All-Star guard Chris Paul. TNT’s David Aldridge reported it first.

VIA – Marc Spears Yahoo

[laarethekingsParticipant]

Waaaay to much to give up for Cp3. That’s why OKC will be playing for a ring this year and the Clippers will have a good team but never great.

Should have just stayed out of the trade talks and let this team grow with Blake, Gordon, Jordon and the Minny pick. Could have been what OKC is now… next year.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Couldn’t agree more @laaarethekings, way too much, it’s sad to see Gordon and that pick leave, if I were the clips i would have a very tedious physical and check out CP3s knees and get second opinions before making it official. 

[PlatypusParticipant]

 They gotta trade one of there many point guards for a 2. They have Williams, Billups, Foye, Warren, and Bledsoe

 Idea: Sign Afflalo

[OldSkoolBasketballParticipant]

They gave Eric Gordon and the draft pick? Stupid 

[TyroberParticipant]

I hate the fact that gave up Gordon. The Knicks didn’t have the pieces and neither did the Lakers. I wish they would have offered Aminu, Kaman, Bledsoe, Future 1st, and Minnesotas pick and say take it or leave it. They had a bright future with all the assets they had…. not saying they don’t now because CP3 will do wonders, but I wish they would have played hardball, because we all know they HAD to trade CP3.

[aamir543Participant]

Wow. but that’s just way too muc to give up, but nonetheless, this will be a good team, top 5 in the est. CP# led the Hornets with West to a playoff spot, now he has Griffin, Buillups and Jordan to throw Alley-oops to, but they gave away a bit too much.

[torontoraptors10Participant]

Source says Clipps will send Gordon, Kaman, Aminu and Minny 1st to New Orleans for Paul and picks.

Via Marc Spears again

[MagikKnickParticipant]

 Can You Picture Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis and Harrison Barnes?

[I May Be WrongParticipant]

 Could we see Billups traded somewhere else? I mean, as mentioned before, there are a lot of PGs on this team. It should be only CP3 and Bledsoe. This team needs a way to flip some of these extra PGs for more bench depth at the 2 guard, back-up SF and back up big men. Not sure what their cap situation is but I can see more trades coming in the near future. 

[BasketBalAllanParticipant]

Stern definitely managed to get value for Paul, but what will determine this trade’s success is how good that pick turns out to be. If the pick ends up being between six and four with the player turning out to be average, the Clippers will look much better than if the Hornets end up getting the next big all-star talent.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

As a friend of Eric Gordon, I’m pissed. Not because he got traded, but because they’ve been lying to him and feeding him bull sh*t.

They’ve told him the entire time he was a building block to the organization and that he wasn’t in the trade talks. F’N liars.

Other than that, Gordon will go to NO and have the opportunity to be the go-to player on a team. He will embrace that role.

[OldSkoolBasketballParticipant]

Eric Gordon fantasy value just skyrocket. He is now the number one guy on a team. Breakout year for him if he can stay healthy. 

[TyroberParticipant]

Clippers should have put Bledsoe in there instead of Gordon. Gordon and Minne pick was too much when they already had a good team and had all the leverage

[butidonthavemoney]

Looks like blocking the Laker trade actually turned in New Orleans’ favor.

The Hornets made out like bandits. Gordon is freakishly underrated and I think the Clippers are going to regret giving him up without more of a fight.

[joecheck88Participant]

I’m pretty sure billups can’t be traded because you can’t trade amnestied players.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Clippers are stupid.  They basically bidded against themselves and gave away talent that could have kept and gotten him next year.  Clippers are young so why be in a rush.

[r377Participant]

I think they gave away too much trying to "out-do" their cross town rivals….

[sheltwon3Participant]

This coming draft is going to be too packed with talent to give away everything they gave away for Paul.  They bailed out the league who basically screwed themselves when the Lakers deal fell threw.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Garbage move on the Hornets part. I can’t believe they were unwilling to trade Bledsoe but traded Gordon. EG is a top 5 SG in the league when healthy and he was only 22.

[Afactor4Participant]

Awful trade… WAYYY too lopsided. Yeah we got a great Point Guard to add to our tally of 4 but for the love of god. 

Expiring 12m contract (Kaman), Eric Gordon, AND a top 3 pick next year (probably). 

[GlenTaylorSucksParticipant]

David Stern must REALLY like the Lakers if he wants to screw the Clippers that much. Hopefully, the Clippers have a plan as to what they’ll do with their T-Wolves-like logjam at the point. Maybe a trade for OJ Mayo? 

[omphalosParticipant]

New Orleans could be in a great spot for the future with the trade. Probably two top ten picks (their own and Minny’s) in such a loaded draft, plus a legit 1st option in Gordon and nice pieces in Aminu, Kaman.

The Clippers should pursue Nick Young in free agency, they need a new 2-guard, and a shooter of Young’s calibre would be the perfect fit alongside CP3.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

^^^^

And by "Hornet’s part" I meant "Clipper’s part" as most of you probably already guessed.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

ahahahahahahahahah

ahahahahahahhahahahaha

hahahahahahahahahahahahah

ahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahah

ahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

hahaahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

hhhhhhhahahahahahahahhahaha

 

Stern is a Mother &$#%#&@! Gangsta…I Told you guys this shyt was not a game…He went for the Throat…The Clippers will always suck…getting the 8th seed isn’t worth Mortaging your Future…

Chris Paul-Chaucey Billups-Caron Butler-Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan-with a shyt load of guards on the bench…I dont know who in their right can say that’s a better Team going going forward…There are too many IF’s on that Team, sorry but Im beating against that team all day…They will fun too watch though….Again Stern is a Boss… 

Again they trade Away youth(Kyrie Irving for Mo Williams last year)

and Now Eric Gordon and Aminu, along with whoever the Hornets get with Minnesota’s pick(the options are limitless) for Chris Paul…????????????????

I would hate to love the Clippers right now…It’s like finding a new girlfriend but realizing your ex was a lot better for you…

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I actually feel they will play Chris Paul WITH Chauncey Billups, with the duo working well together. Chris Paul was on a team where David West was his PF that made the play-offs, with very little depth otherwise. Now he is playing with Blake Griffin.

Eric Gordon is awesome and all, but Chris Paul is incredibly likely to be the best player in this deal by far. Even with if Minnesota still does poorly, who knows where they end up picking? They more than likely will miss the play-offs, but will the Clippers get a player in the 2012 Draft better than Chris Paul? It is possible, but not overly likely.

Also, I do not think the Clippers were bidding against themselves, but against a number of other teams who had something to offer Chris Paul. The difference between Paul’s situation and Melo last year was that we knew Melo had a couple spots he was looking at. New York was there all along. If the Clippers do not trade for Chris Paul, I am not so confident that they end up signing him in the summer. Than you have Eric Gordon, Minnesota’s pick, Aminu and Kaman’s cap space, but not one of the best PG’s in the league. The Hornets get at least a decent deal, but the Clippers get the best player to have ever graced their franchise next to a potential franchise PF. Could be much worse. 

[aamir543Participant]

Buillups can’t be traded till the end of the year. I assume it’s to avoid the Heat working out a deal with the Kings or somthing like that lol.

And in a sense, David Stern got the Hornets a pretty sweet deal. A guard to build around, another big in Kaman on rent, but he can still play, Prospect in Aminu and Bledsoe, plus a top 5(not so fast, the Twolves might be good…………..oh who am I kidding, It’s Kaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhnnnnnn) and another top 5 of heir own since they’ll be so bad, lol. But seriously, this team isn’t that bad, and could make a run for the eight seed If you ask me.

[mbunner23Participant]

 Blake Griffin just got a WHOLE lot better.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

That Minny pick might not be as great as we make it out to be, no coach gets more out of less talent then Rick Adelman, still terrible trade, should have traded their other 1st rounder, or NOT GORDON!!

[dmo21Participant]

For the Clippers’ sake, i hope Minnesota does good this year..

[F_DA_POParticipant]

Bledsoe will be traded before the season starts. Book it.

[omphalosParticipant]

There’s no question the Hornets will be rubbish this season, but it’s for the best. Hopefully Gordon sticks around long-term to be the franchise player, but if not they could still land a Perry Jones, Drummond or Barnes in the draft to be that guy.

All of the idiots who were complaining about Stern needing to be fired for blocking the Lakers trade should consider the job he’s done setting up NO’s future. He’ll be able to sell that team now IMO and they should be in playoff contention in two years. Crazy to think Gordon is still so young.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

It will definitly be in the top 5…

And I like The Idea of adding OJ Mayo when this deal gets done, but I don’t see the Grizzlies wanting the pieces The Clippers will have to have to offer afterward(any combo of Bledsoe,Warren or Foye wouldn’t work IMO) the Grizzlies are loaded at Pg/Sg too…and Xavier Henry will miss the first few weeks of the Season…they’d need a 3rd team to get involved, one that would supply Memphis with a scoring Sg…I like the idea of adding Nick Young too, good call by a few of the previous posters…

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@mikeyvthedon

I don’t understand how you think this was a good deal.

You give up large parts of a your future for a player who lacks a huge chunk of meniscus in his knee and who you don’t even know if he’ll re-sign with you. The Clippers face a REAL possibility that he will walk away. And IF he walks away, so goodbye to Blake Griffin, because he’ll be a looking at a team that’s gutted.

The Clippers were too bidding against themselves. Who else was going to trade for Chris Paul that HE would sign an extention or even opt into the last year of his deal with? The Hornets had absolutely no leverage. This wasn’t a good deal for the Clippers. It’s not about what’s fair. It’s about who has leverage. Didn’t you pay any attention to the lockout this summer? The NBA had ALL of the leverage and the players had none, so therefore they were in concessionary bargaining the entire lockout.

This wasn’t a good deal at all.

[HaleParticipant]

 I would be somewhat hesitant to give up Gordon straight up for Paul. Throw in all the others and the Clips just got robbed.

[omphalosParticipant]

Don’t forget if the Clippers get outside the bottom ten in the draft their pick goes to Boston, so the Clippers will miss this draft too.

If they are getting Ariza with this deal it isn’t quite so bad, but all NO are giving up is CP3 then Clippers have lost out on this deal.

[dmo21Participant]

I think it would be the best idea to trade away Mo Williams, maybe to Miami for Mike Miller and a pick. Miami doesn’t really need Miller anymore as they now have Battier to backup the wing positions. Mike Miller can start on the wing for the Clippers and be a spot up shooter while Paul throws lobs for Griffin&Jordan.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 

Really don’t understand this 1 bit….someone anyone please help me out.

CP3 Billups Williams Bledsoe 1+1+1+1 = 4 PGs if I stand correct.

CP3 = Instant upgrade. VERY understandable

Billups bluff got called. Does he show up or retire? Can’t have it his way, not like it’s BK, because he will not start at all.

Williams = what now? Destination? 

Bledsoe is a 1st Round guy that you(Clips) reached out to acquire, meaning he was your PG of the future. Now he will be shopped for bringing in a vet is what I am assuming. Correct anyone?

*Eric Gordon gone = WTF are you thinking!

Clippers wouldn’t be the Clippers if they did not try to set themselves back by doing too much.

[FilipinoElla]

 Blake griffin have a point guard now, who can pass alley ops to him, remember how chandler and paul played, imagine, griffin and paul!

[Charlie SheenParticipant]

Sterling is an idiot.

He traded Kyrie Irving(Potentially) for Mo Williams

Is gonna pay Deandre Jordan 10mil per year for 4years

Trading Potentially a top 5 pick, Eric Gordan(the #5 SG in the league) for a PG when he has 4 already on the team.

So essentially they have no size in the backcourt(Foye 6’4, Billups 6’3, Williams 6’2, Bledsoe 6’1, Paul 6’0, Leslie 6’4)

No go to perimeter scorer. I mean really all they’ll be good for is lobs and putbacks, if CP3 signs an extension ima slap the living hell out of him, Sterling will not a put a great team around him. Paul better say he wont re-sign and just wait it out until next summer when STAT and Melo can restrucure and sign with the Knicks or take less and sign with Orlando

[M.GarveyParticipant]

renting CP3 2 years for Minny #1 pick, E.Gordon? hmmmmmm I have to think about it before I make a snap judgement. If this was 08-09 CP3 I wouldnt even think twice about it.

Clippers now have to trade Mo Williams

[omphalosParticipant]

I know this is wildly unlikely, but imagine if Deron Williams signed with New Orleans next season. Williams, Gordon, Aminu/Ariza, Emeka, Kaman plus two top 10 picks. That team would immediately be in contention.

Even more hilarious would be CP3 not signing an extension after his option year with the Clippers and returning to New Orleans surrounded by young talent and a great scorer in Gordon.

Funny that NO is now an attractive FA destination on paper with the young talent and good coaching staff they have.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 It was the reason why he blocked the trade and he’s not negotiating Stu Jackson is the same guy who ran the Grizzlies out of Canada by making some of the dumbest moves ever as a GM like stubbornly drafting a player with the 2nd pick in a loaded draft class who had no intentions of playing in Canada and then panicking and trading him away for nowhere near his value.

Stern is putting his whole league in jeapardy by controlling this trade which should be left in the hands of Dell Demps.  Monty Williams the Hornets poor coach wanted Odom, Scola, and Kevin Martin back because for some silly reason he wanted a roster this year he could coach to some victories.  Now the Hornets wanna go the rebuilding route which is fine but don’t get greedy and cheat this is like making a trade in NBA 2K12 with the trade overide on so you can get anybody for anything.  

Stern is taking away from what was finally going to be the season the Clippers mattered and contended and it was going to be great for the NBA.  Paul, Gordon, Butler, Griffin, and Jordan will be serious threats in the West.  Without Gordon and his floor spacing outside shooting, his athleticism on defense and transition, and the Clips are just threats.  And it will make for worse tv.  

[What The DevilParticipant]

 Getting Ariza would definitely soften the blow because he is another athletic guy to run the court with Paul, Griffin, and Jordan. SG has a huge hole though and I’m not sure Young would be the best option…I do think Mayo would be the best fit for them. 

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

we can on all night but It’s a crazy offseason so far, yes there hasn’t been as much movement as expected but the moves being made are all curious ones…

I completely see where Mikey’s coming from in a way…Paul and Griffin would be an amazing Pg/Pf combo…A damm scary pick and roll pairing that will have no shortage of highlights…Where I get lost in your enthusiasm is that the entire team isn’t quite there right now…I also undestand it can be a process and with the Clippers at step 1 it looks bad right now…I would agree Its going to take some time to get a clear picture of the Clippers future…

But In hindsight, they traded away the pick that ended up being The # 1 OVERALL PICK, for Mo Williams, one year before The Amnesty Rule would have saved them from Baron Davis’s contract anyway…

They’d Have Kyrie Irving-Eric Gordon-Al Farroq Aminu-Blake Griffin-Deandre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe…Not to mention Minnesota’s pick in a loaded draft…

Instead they over pay for Mo Williams-Caron Butler-De’Andre Jordan and claimed Billups off waivers, now they trade away all the youth picks and expiring cash they Had for Chris Paul…

I think we Draft Net Uber fans would have all loved to keep the young guys and picks and build through the Draft…So that’s why you’ll get some of the reactions you’ll be getting…Paul and Griffin is definitly a great Combo to build arould though so that’s also what we have to remember…But the Hornets got a steal…They can now build arould Gordon and their 2 first rounders from the deep 2012 draft, and lets not scoff at the talents of Aminu,Ariza,Jack and Emeka Ofefor…I think they’ll be alright down the road, Im very happy for them after all the Cp 3 Drama…Stern did them a great service, much better than Dell Demps straping them with 30 million more in salaries and possible 8th seed thus ruining their plans for rebuilding…Seriously I was LOL’ing at people crying for Dell Demps…He was doing a horrible job at GM’ing IMHO…

[What The DevilParticipant]

 Maybe..just maybe…the Clippers are taking a page out the the T-Wolves book and plan on monopolizing the pg market?

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

and make actually post regarding the topic at hand…

that or we can post one liners on other threads and keep the flow going elsewhere if no more intelligent thought is to be found on a Chris Paul trade Thread…

I can see this going 3 or 4 pages by the end of the night…with no real basketball knowledge gained by a soul…

What kind of offense do the Clippers try to Run now that Paul is on board…I’d imagine a Pick and Roll heavy play book resembling the old Jazz days…they will need some shooters to space the floor, I’m sure they’d love a dead eye to start at the Sg position, but they may also want some more size and defense at the wings…A lot of potential there in Clipper land for sure…

[aamir543Participant]

Hmm, now that I think of it, don’t we always talk about how Jason Kidd made Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson look good, right, and how they should give half of their big deals to Kidd, so if you think of it that way, I feel that Chris Paul will help Blake’s game to the next level. Seriously, I’ll predict Blake to get 26 and 12 this season. It may seem a bit out there, but I think that he will be a much better half court player, and add that to his repitaure.

[What The DevilParticipant]

 I would say the team is going to try to make a killing in transition. Is Del Negro still the coach? If so I thought he was more of a half-court style coach. Not really sure didn’t watch many clipper games last season. But I would definitely say pick and roll and a lot of running.

[HaleParticipant]

 I liked a Billups/Gordon backcourt a lot more then a Paul/Billups? backcourt, especially defensively. They really didn’t need to make this move at all. Gordon is a fantastic up and coming sg to go along with Blake and Jordan down low. Then Billups brings veteran leadership and you can even use Bledsoe as a change of pace pg when Billups is out. 

[greeninjaParticipant]

I guess that mo williams or bledsoe are going to be traded i would guess they would trade for a sg

[What The DevilParticipant]

 Can the Clips still amnesty Williams? 

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

 They may want to keep that for Jordan or Butler down the road(IF PERMITED BY CBA)…They have to get rid of a of a few guards…we forget that Bledsoe and Mo can play some Sg if the Clips go small guard…I’m sure they regret claiming Billups off waivers if the Paul trade DOES GO THROUGH…they could have focused in on Rip Hamilton or Nick Young earlier, even Jamal Crawford might have even come around…they certainly need a starting Sg at this point, Im sure they’ll be doing their best to get one…

[Lotto StudParticipant]

I know this deal is over the top, but don’t forget that they have Caron Butler.

I know he may be out of shape, but at 1 point in his career he was able to play the 2. Hopefully if the Clips know what’s good for them, they would get Butler familiar running the offense at the 2 for awhile, until they bring in someone else to take over the duties.

[KobeeeeeParticipant]

 f, I was looking forward to the next best wing-big combo since Kobe and Shaq.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

So, the Lakers had no chance of getting Chris Paul? He was definitely going to sign with the Clippers if he stayed on New Orleans? Here is what I think is funny, how everyone was assuming that the Clippers could low ball the Hornets as if they were the only team interested in signing or trading for Chris Paul. Seemed like their were other deals.

I see no reason how this situation compares to the lockout. Because, quite obviously, their was leverage. Because this trade happened. You guys are the ones who talk about fairness. You talk about Blake Griffin being a complete player, like he is the only player in the league working on being one, but than you get up in arms when Eric Gordon gets traded for Chris Paul.

People were acting like this with Melo last year as well. But, now New York has Carmelo Anthony and Denver has a, bright future? Now, let’s look at New Orleans end of the deal here. They have to now try to sign Eric Gordon, who is not assured to sign an extension with them. He very well might take the qualifying offer and peace out after next season. 

I guess I am not worried about Paul walking. NOW the Clippers have leverage. They can sign him to more than anyone else can, he will be playing with Blake Griffin and he might feel some obligation. Before, I feel like the Clippers had no sway. Gordon is a beast, but he has yet to prove he can lead a team anywhere other than mediocrity. Not the case with Chris Paul, not to mention playing with Chauncey Billups. 

Personally, I am not angry about this deal. I guess the Clippers probably gave up more than one would expect, but we were always talking about fairness during the lockout. I personally have little emotional investment in the deal. I am not angry with it, I will tell you that much. I do not feel it makes the Hornets the team of the future and screws the Clippers.

It would be one thing if Chris Paul said, "I will only play for the Clippers". But, he didn’t. This could means he leaves (though I am fairly confident he won’t), but I think the Clippers now having an ability to sign him for more money than any other team out there gives them a major boost. Plus, with the signing of Caron Butler, plus DeAndre Jordan (who a majority of people were b!tching about the Clippers having to sign, though I was not one of them), plus the fact that they were going to sign Eric Gordon to an extension, would they have been able to sign Chris Paul as a free agent? I don’t know, but I feel like Chris Paul would have been looking at other options, or could have even surprised us and signed for less money. Now, I do not think that happens.

So, I do feel that the NBA was obnoxious in this trade, but they obviously created leverage that truly helps both teams. The Clippers are a better team right now and their was no assurance that they had a formula to a championship with the things they traded away. Time will tell, my friend. But, I think they may very well have gotten the best player in the deal. He is older than the other players, he has injury concerns, but no one seemed to be bringing this up when they thought he was going to be playing with Eric Gordon.

People were busy trying to think of ways to make the Clippers the golden team of the NBA, but I think this trade shows that it is not that easy. Hey, Chris Paul makes a couple teams happy. How is this trade that bad? I never said it was fantastic for the Clippers, but it is NOT THAT BAD. They ended up trading three young players and an expiring contract for a top 10 player in the league. Eric Gordon could be an All-Star, Al-Farouq Aminu could be a solid combo forward and their is a pick from Minnesota that we have little idea about. I think the Clippers have done worse, and you left out the fact that Chris Paul is pretty amazing when he is healthy. Which he seems to be. I know this trade is not optimal for you as a Clippers/Eric Gordon fan, but it works fine for me. I like that the trade was fair. I do not know why that offends you.

[joecheck88Participant]

 Maybe they can try to sign terrico white. At least it sounds good with all the other athletes.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

why not trade Mo Williams to Miami for Mike Miller(If Healthy, not sure if he’s still on The Injured list)…Miami gets a solid shooter at Pg, one that has chemistry with Lebron and could help spread the floor in the Heat’s starting line up or has a instant offense type off the bench behind Chalmers…Miller(if healthy) would actually like like a perfect fit between Paul and Butler in the Line Up…Paul-Miller-Butler-Griffin-Jordan-Billups-Bledsoe-Foye-Thompkins-Leslie…of course they’d still love a young 2 guard to start over Miller long term, but this roster in set to try get into the playoffs and let the chips fall where they may after…Paul and Griffin leading the Abismal Clippers franchise into the Playoffs would be a great story…It would become story book if they crossed paths with The Lakers in a 1 vs 8 or 2 vs 7 matchup, and actually WON…that would put all this early chaos into a very interesting perspective…

[Steven]

 i cant tell if you guys are F**king kidding. BAD TRADE? are you guys mad. you guys are always saying how chris paul is one of the best point guards in the game. oh and believe me, i love eric gordons game. but he is NO chris paul. i remember watching a couple years ago CP3 vs the spurs. he dominated. him and griffin is gonna be a problem. i see them being a Malone/Stockton type duo. Give griffin a year or 2 to develop his game, and he’s gonna be one of the best power fowards too. add in caron butler who i personally believe still has a year or 2 left in the League, and you have a SQUAD. you guys are just mad…

[joecheck88Participant]

 And let’s not act like Eric Gordon is always healthy. He is a very good player. Realistically, the clippers gave up a young athlete that can be a good player. A big man they weren’t going to keep. An oft injured but very promising sg. And a pick that wasn’t their in the first place which could be top 5 but also easily be in the 8 to 12 range. 

 

They got probably the best pg in the game to pair with an upcoming power forward. Let’s give the clippers some credit for actually trying to be relevant.

[torontoraptors10Participant]

Amnesty expires this Friday I believe

IMO the Clippers got ROBBED. Hornets have a much brighter future without Chris Paul. They’ll be getting a top 3 pick, Eric Gordon and an expiring contract? David Stern is a G. Clippers depleted their line up for CP3, guess it’s quality over quantity.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@mikeyvthedon

What does my opinion that this was a bad deal have to do with my thread about Blake Griffin working hard on his weaknesses and becoming a complete player??? I won’t even reply to the rest of your post after that ignorance.

 

 

 

 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Man, how can you say they are getting a top 3 pick? Lol. They could be getting anywhere from 4-9, who knows? Every spot lower they go, the less chance they have at getting a big time player. Chris Paul was the 4th pick, but he is truly better than most first picks in the draft on a given year. He is a franchise level player. Chances are, the Hornets do not have one of those guys.

They could draft one in 2012, but it is not guarantee. Not to mention, they now do not have a point guard. PG is not the most crucial position, but do people really think the Hornets are the next big thing after this trade? Have to say, they have a long way to go. The Cavaliers had the first in fourth pick in this past draft, and they still have a long way to go.

Yes, this draft is better and they have Eric Gordon, but the odds are, they will still have a ways to go unless they get lucky in the lotto. They are young, but it does not necessarily mean these players would have the impact Chris Paul would have. Plus, all these players would eventually have to be paid as well. That is why, I truly believe, this trade is not as bad as people are making it out to be for the Clippers.

[dmo21Participant]

Hey scarecrow good trade idea, I was thinking the same thing. Actually, I already did think of it and post it in this forum, under this exact post… lol

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

How is it ignorance to notice that you seem to have possible biases that involve the Clippers? Not to mention Eric Gordon. Man, you dish it out a lot, but someone brings up something completely legitimate and you call them ignorant. Nice, man. You constantly call other people out for being biased, you bring things up from the past all of the time and I do the same thing in noticing a trend, so now I am ignorant?

Man, here is some news: THIS TRADE HAPPENED. You may not like it, but maybe, just maybe, I am not the one being ignorant here. I never called you ignorant for saying the Hornets had no leverage, even though, well, THIS TRADE HAPPENED! Why do two wrongs make a right? I feel like your original post to me was super condescending addressing the entire "lockout" scenario that you and I both did not like.

So, if the Clippers had kept Eric Gordon and gotten Chris Paul, that would have been well and good, but the trade being fair sucks. I just thought it was funny that people felt this way, when people usually complain about a lack of parity. If I was wrong about the trade, than I would have given you full credit. But, the fair trade happens and now I am ignorant?

When you highlighted complete, who was that a shout out to? Man, I do not think you are ignorant, but I feel that you saying my bringing the Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon thing up than calling me ignorant just makes little sense. I do not know what I wrote that got you so upset, but I respect you as a poster and I try not to get into name calling, that I feel you just resorted to.

I apologized about saying you "hate" LeBron as opposed to "strongly dislike" LeBron, so I do not think you can resort to that whole thing as a reason why you suddenly blew up. All I said was that Blake Griffin working on becoming a complete player, by working on his weaknesses, is largely what other players do as well. Blake may do it better, have no idea, but I do not know how that is ignorant or how it was that offensive. If you took it that way, I apologize, but you seem to be angry about the trade and I guess my opinion just brought this out? I don’t know, but I was not asking for a long explanation, just not expecting you to resort to what you just did.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Is I just read your first post and I am sorry for your friend. That sucks. But, as I said, I do not have emotion in this and my only analysis of this is from the standpoint of a basketball fan who actually appreciated it being a fair trade. I think even you know though, this is a business and Eric was part of a franchise that has a history of lying to players.

I mean, dude, Donald Sterling. Plus, he will excel as a go-to guy and he has a bright future, just not with the Clippers. But, that does not necessarily mean that Chris Paul will not also be successful and make them a better team. Plus, you have to admit, the Lakers would have signed Paul to an extension, and their was no guarantee that he would have signed with the Clippers next summer. I realize why you have emotion, so I am no longer at loss for an explanation to your reaction. If you still think I am ignorant, so be it, but I at the very least have told you where I am coming from.

[inukawaii8Participant]

 i dislike the trade bc like everyone else thinks, the clippers gave up too much. 

however, i will say the same thing as i did for the lakers… if you have a chance to snatch arguably one of the top 5 players in the league, you make the deal, and worry about the rest later. if paul stays healthy and clippers get him to sign an extension, this is probably a great trade for the clippers. Blake Griffin is a potentially a top 10 players in the league this season, which means the clips would have two top 10 players in the league. They have good supporting cast in jordan, butler, and any of the other 3 PGs. They also have a number of developing young players too. I see this team as one of the team to beat in the future if they lock up paul and paul stays healthy

[torontoraptors10Participant]

Mikey, I do believe the T-Wolves will be one of the worst teams in the league this year. With that being said, when I did say it’ll be a top 3 pick I do expect the T-Wolves to have one of the top 3 highest probabilties to land the #1 pick.

[marcusfizer21Participant]

 as much as I hate EJ being gone… This trade is definitely something that the NOH needs… young players and draft picks that could enthuse potential buyers in the future… I understand why the league did veto the first deal, though I don’t appreciate what they did,  because when you look at guys like Scola, Martin and Odom, they’re not getting any younger… This deal is good in particular with the Hornets franchise… I mean, they got two potential lottery picks on a draft class that is as strong as perhaps the 2008 or 2003. They have a lot of options going forward with this… PLUS Eric Gordon is gonna be the man for them.. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Huh? You don’t make any sense… I never wrote that other players weren’t working on having complete games nor was that my intention. The point of my thread was to say that Griffin wasn’t all about highlights and actually wanted to play a winning brand of basketball. Most fans are amazed by the excitement he brings, but he’s more interested in getting better at the boring things that don’t get as much attention. A lot of people seem to think he’s more sizzle than steak. You clearly missed the point of the thread.

Then you try to somehow relate my thread about Griffin to my opinons on a trade… Like to try to lower or devalue my opinions about the trade. How does that make any sense??? That’s what I said was ignorant, and it is. Once again, what does my thread about Griffin have to do with my opinion that the Clippers had all of the leverage in this deal and caved?

You make it like I said the deal wasn’t fair or that Chris Paul isn’t a better player than Eric Gordon. All I’ve written is that the Clippers had more leverage in the deal and the Hornets really didn’t have that much to demand what they did. We’re talking about a player that they had to trade or was just going to walk away at the end of the season.

I’m through debating with you. As a matter of fact, I’m just going to ignore you for now on. I don’t really enjoy reading your opinions anyway.

 

 

 

[marcusfizer21Participant]

 come on guys, stop it already… it’s getting ugly… 

[I May Be WrongParticipant]

^^ I was thinking the same thing man. These well written verbal exhanges from two of the titans of NBAdraft.net were a little intense. Here’s a funny classic to lighten the mood

 

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I just didn’t like the fact that he used my Blake Griffin thread to somehow say I was biased towards the Clippers in this trade. I post threads and comments about damn near every player and subject on this site and try to keep it real regardless. I just thought that was ignorant.

 

 

 

[butidonthavemoney]

Ignore the ignorant.

Am I the only person who appreciates this philosophy?

By the way, I wrote a big response in the Bucks topic but it got deleted before I could send it.

McModerator has a nice ring to it.

[uknationParticipant]

Kinda feel sorry for my friend Eric Bledsoe who had a chance to become a starter this year after working hard on his game this summer,Now that won’t happen since CP3 is there. This trade was not fair and the Clippers gave up too much but at the same time they got back the top pg in the NBA and already have a superstar on the team in Blake. The Clippers actually had the leverage because CP3 was only gonna sign with 2 other teams (Lakers,Knicks) and they didn’t have the players to trade to get Paul so they should have just waited it out. The Lakers were only gonna give up Gasol and didn’t have a draft pick so the Clippers could have sat back and waited (even if the Lakers would have gotten a pick Stern wasn’t going to approve the trade imo). The Hornets also look good in this trade because they got a very good SG as well as a top3-4 pick (Minny won’t fall out of the top 3-4) a center who should get at least 18-10 which would make him great trade bait, maybe for Love if the Hornets own pick was included, and a SF would has a good future (possibly a taller Thad Young). If not they have 2 lotto picks that they could use or trade up to get a top 3 pick if they fall out of the top 3.

[Chapelhill41Participant]

With Minnesota being the guide to that pick, it is for certain a lottery pick and with this year’s draft looking as solid as ever, long-term both teams win. An unselfish PG (CP3) is what the Clippers need and a pure scorer (Gordon) is what the Hornets need. Also, in my opinion the NBA is making the New Orleans Hornets more marketable for a new owner by also adding Kaman and the lottery pick while also creating trade bait (having two solid centers in Kaman and Okafor in a Center-weak league).

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

The point of my thread was to say that Griffin wasn’t all about highlights and actually wanted to play a winning brand of basketball. Most fans are amazed by the excitement he brings, but he’s more interested in getting better at the boring things that don’t get as much attention. A lot of people seem to think he’s more sizzle than steak. You clearly missed the point of the thread.

Have to say, I truly did. I feel like most players try to improve as much as possible as complete basketball players. Some are just better at doing so than others. I read into this as a slight to players you maybe did not think were playing a "winning brand of basketball". Read into it too much. Hope that at least makes more sense.

Then you try to somehow relate my thread about Griffin to my opinons on a trade… Like to try to lower or devalue my opinions about the trade. How does that make any sense??? That’s what I said was ignorant, and it is. Once again, what does my thread about Griffin have to do with my opinion that the Clippers had all of the leverage in this deal and caved?

I apologize, as it definitely seems that way, but I did not mean to devalue your opinion. But, your lockout analogy was very much along the same lines and as I said, two wrongs do not make a right. I felt like you were gung-ho about the Clippers in general and the prospect of getting a guy like Chris Paul when Eric Gordon was involved in that process. But, once he was not, than you seemed to be really upset about the trade. Again, I felt like the Blake Griffin thread was a slight to certain other players (ie. LeBron James), so I misread it. For that, I do again, apologize.

You make it like I said the deal wasn’t fair or that Chris Paul isn’t a better player than Eric Gordon. All I’ve written is that the Clippers had more leverage in the deal and the Hornets really didn’t have that much to demand what they did. We’re talking about a player that they had to trade or was just going to walk away at the end of the season.

I’m through debating with you. As a matter of fact, I’m just going to ignore you for now on. I don’t really enjoy reading your opinions anyway.

Well, my apologies were sincere and I never say anywhere that you said Eric Gordon was better than Chris Paul. The thing I thought was funny was that I believed you, and other posters, thought that the Chris Paul trade was amazing until it involved Eric Gordon. Almost like if the Clippers indeed would have used their "leverage" (a term I am quoting because I still do not believe they had as much as people believe), that they could have had Chris Paul, Eric Gordon and a ready made formula for a championship.

I think the Carmelo trade, Paul trade and heck, even the Miami Heat signings of last summer, show that it is not that easy to have a team set up from top to bottom. Hence, the Clippers now do not have that "true" shooting guard. Also, as I said before, I believe the Clippers were not the only team bidding on a Chris Paul trade, that the Lakers and other teams could have emerged. The guy was still suing the league over the Lakers trade, so he was pushing to be dealt rather than spend an unhappy year in New Orleans and walk. I also have to say I find it funny that you feel with Eric Gordon, they would just sign Chris Paul, but without Eric Gordon, he is incredibly likely to walk at the end of his contract. That, to me, does not sound like a lot of leverage for the Clippers.

Now, if you want to ignore me, as I said, so be it. I for one am fairly forgiving, but if I committed a cardinal sin by stating my point of view when being questioned as to why I had it, well, I am willing to suffer the consequences. If you felt like I belittled your opinion, I apologize, but I tried to tell you where I was coming from and as this trade did indeed go down, I felt like I maybe had some apt observations rather than not seeing the big picture, which is what I felt your lockout analogy was pointing towards. If you read my last post before this one, and still feel enough to shun me, than as I said, so be it. I felt I apologized where I needed to and if you do not enjoy my opinions, I am glad you told me so.

[McDunkin]

 

[HitsterParticipant]

I wonder if the Clippers might go with a Nellie Ball type line up with all those PG’s on the roster!

Billups and CP3 does give you a nice backcourt and if they can get some trade value for Mo Williams or Eric Bledsoe then they can add depth elsewhere.

Poor Eric Bledsoe must think he is doomed, first he goes to Kentucky and they sign John Wall, now he ends up 4th choice PG at the Clippers!

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

So I make a thread about Blake Griffin, don’t mention LeBron James anywhere in it, and you somehow assume that I’m refering to James? I put an emphasis on Griffin becoming a complete player in the NBA, and your insecurities about your favorite player come out.

James has led his team to the NBA’s best record twice, is a two time MVP, has been to two NBA Finals appearances and is the best two way player in basketball and you assume that I’m implying that I think this man doesn’t play a winning brand of basketball??? You love adding your .99 cents, but have no clue what you’re even adding it to.

And what is the problem with my lockout analogy? I don’t get it… I asked you did you pay any attention to how the NBA/Owners were able to strong arm the players because they had the upper hand and majority of the leverage. Was that not true??? Were the NBA players not in concessionary bargaining the entire lockout? Business is business. What’s "fair" is in the eyes of the beholder. I don’t feel it’s fair that gas is $3.50 per gallon, but guess what? I’m going to pay it because I need to drive my car and don’t have any leverage. IF I had an electric car sitting in my garage, then yea… Then I think twice about paying that money and drive my electric car until they lower the gas price. Majority of the players feel they didn’t get a fair deal, but majority of the owners do. LAC was in a position of leverage in the negotiations with the NBA/Hornets, yet they didn’t take advantage of it. I just don’t understand the problem with this thought.

It’s water under the bridge though. Deal is done. It is what it is. You wrote what you wrote. I wrote what I wrote. It’s over.

 

[McDunkin]

*This message has been brought to you by MMA © and McDunkin for mod foundation ©

 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I hope it is water under the bridge, because I hold no ill will. I did misinterpret the Griffin thing as a slight, because I have felt like you tend to take subtle digs at LeBron James. Of course I have insecurities about LeBron James! I willingly admit this. He has yet to win a championship and it is hard to explain how he played this past season against Dallas. I feel I go out on the line to support him, but I know he is not perfect. Do you not have uncertainties in general? See, I am usually pretty confident in what I say and I try to do as much research as possible to back it up, but I know I am not always right and definitely not close to perfect. There is usually a large amount of uncertainty when analyzing any trade.

What I will say is, I should not have brought up the Blake Griffin thing as a ways of saying you were biased towards the Clippers. It was something I should have addressed in the original topic if I had any uncertainty. But, when you highlight "complete", and constantly say things about LeBron James as "missing something", do you not see how I could see it as a hidden message? I mean, you took me talking about Blake Griffin as an assassination of character or diminishing your opinion, when it was not in the least. 

Didn’t you pay any attention to the lockout this summer? The NBA had ALL of the leverage and the players had none, so therefore they were in concessionary bargaining the entire lockout.

Yes, I did pay attention to the lockout. I believe you knew very well I did, but than you ask me if I paid any attention to it, almost as possibly talking down to somebody. I do not know the tone you were using it in, but being familiar with you as a poster, I felt this was a bit of a slap in the face, especially as I had already given my views of why I did not believe the two situations were as close as you might have thought. The Hornets had leverage in being owned by the NBA and in the fact that, even if you do not believe there were, I believe there were other scenarios where Chris Paul might have been traded and signed an extension.

Now, where I think you really got upset was by me implying you had biases. But, you have implied I have biases quite a bit. I do. I think everyone does. I still think you have a point and that it is valid. I wasn’t trying to belittle your opinion by pointing this out. Just because one has a closer attachment to a situation and may feel a certain way about it does not mean you do not "keep it real". You definitely do, but you just seemed to have a lot of emotion involved in this. I do not see it as weakness at all and I apologize if I over stepped a boundary, but I was stating my opinion and stating it in a similar way to which you addressed me.

I apologize again if I was hostile. You and I are very passionate in our beliefs and opinions. Yes, these arguments can be draining, misunderstandings often happen. But, I do not know why it came to hostility or a proposed shunning. I truly did not want this to be the case and do not feel "that ignorance", as you referred to it, was reason to just flat give up on everything I said rather than maybe asking for an explanation. We are both love basketball and I at the very least respect your knowledge base to the point where even if I disagreed with something you said to great extent, I would know that you put thought into it or I would know to ask for a greater explanation.

So, I hope it is water under the bridge, which I take as meaning we are back to normal. I think that you and I have great debates and discussions, but this one got out of hand. I definitely did not want the reaction from you I received. I just hope you know that even if you believe what I wrote was enough for you to ignore me, know that was not my intention and I was just debating my stance on the situation. I know you did not want me to write anymore, I will gladly give you the last word, but know that I found it hard to know if you meant water on the bridge as "agree to disagree" or as "I no longer will debate this person again". I hope it is the first one, because I usually enjoy your view point whether it is similar or different from mine. Not to mention, while you may not like some of my opinions, I think we actually agree on quite a bit.

[butidonthavemoney]

I was not picking sides, and don’t think mikeyv was being ignorant at all. Just thought it was funny that somebody’s solution for dealing with ignorant people, is to be even more ignorant back at them.

I’m not looking to get involved past that observation, as I have no opinion on that matter.

[Author]

Posts