Yeoman beat man Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee reports the Kings are mulling a trade offer from the Hornets that would send high-priced center Emeka Okafor to Sacramento in exchange for roleplaying, aging forward Kenny Thomas. K-9 has looked spry in early action for the Kings, but his best attribute is his $8.7 million expiring contract. Okafor is on the books through the 2013-14 season.New Orleans acquired Okafor this summer, committing a grip of cash long-term in the process. The Hornets sent Tyson Chandler -- an expensive center himself, but on a much shorter contract -- to Charlotte in the deal, which came several months after the Hornets tried to unload Chandler for a package of expiring contracts amid the throes of a playoff chase. Chandler, however, failed his physical with the Thunder, reversing the trade.
In other words, this trade would effectively finish the job of losing Chandler's contract, and would set the tone for continued salary cuts from New Orleans. Boo to all that.
When the team announced the dismissal of coach Byron Scott this week, executives insisted the team would not slip into rebuilding mode. But moving Okafor -- the team's only legit starting center -- for a player so limited in a move so obviously inspired by finances is concession. The franchise would be conceding that the team will not contend this year. I'm sure Chris Paul and David West will be thrilled with that.
The initial Chandler-Thunder move was fairly depressing on this front. However, that move had Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith heading to New Orleans for the stretch run. It was what one could call a "quasi-salary dump," because Smith and Wilcox could definitely have helped the Hornets heading into the playoffs, and because Chandler wasn't himself last year. But Okafor is now healthy, and Thomas is not an inspiring acquisition. He rebounds and defends, but he shouldn't play more than spot duty, and he's a huge minus on offense. I have no qualms in suggesting he would blow a full 50 percent of the potential assists Paul would toss his way.
Trading Okafor after firing Scott after trying to trade Chandler for expiring contracts is a real nice way to tick off Paul, the team's top asset by a wide, wide, wide, wide margin. As such, it's a pretty bad move.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
this is the dumbest the hornets could do, if i was chris paul, i would leave the stupid hornets organization, they are dumber than dumb, idiots is a compliment, now no center, he is a blessing to us, if he goes, i hope d west and cp3 also go, i am a louisiana man and hornets fan, but this is just pure stupid, how stupid can they be! thomas is a zero and we have a rookie pt guard, we dont need him at all, i really hope Chris leaves and goes to Dallas, with him, they can win a championship!!!!!
The Hornets are obviously not intent on winning and trying to dump salaries no matter the cost. Undoubtedly that's what got Byron Scott fired. When a team does'nt care about winning, if you're used to winning, it's a hard pill to swallow. Not fair to Chris Paul, trade him to a team that at least tries to win. Suggestions-Golden State for Stephen Jackson and Monte Ellis-two effective but disgruntled stars, Detroit Will Bynum-great young point guard and Tayshaun Prince-a talented small forward to go with David West, Memphis Rudy Gay-super talented and Disgruntled, and Michael Conley another young guard with a lot of potential or Portland-Andre miller -Still got skills and Lamarcus Aldridge...for Chris Paul...maybe.
Wow, i love my Hornets and am the biggest Chris Paul fan - but if they do something to this extent then im afraid its almost a sure thing that he will start demanding for a trade sometime next season or at the least definetly not re-sign when his contract is up. I wanted us to package Peja with someone else (either Chandler and Butler or West and Butler,for the right deal only) the offseason after the playoff run because he stayed healthy that whole year and had a decent year and his value would have been the highest it will ever be for the rest of his career. We could have gotten an All-Star from someone who was in a tight spot trying to get rid of one (Deng was up for trade, Amare was rumored, and there were a few others that were plausible). Now we are gonna end up losing Chandler for nothing and still being strapped with Peja's contract.
Since we are stuck like that we need to try to package Okafor, Peja, and and Posey (and possibly Wright if need be) to a team for an All-Star with an expiring contract and an overpaid player with an expiring contract who still has a shot at producing. And as a last ditch effort we need to offer up West in a package . Anything to get a spark and avoid losing the piece we got for Chandler for absolutely nothing...
Anyone think Philly would go for AI, Brand, and Dalembert for West, Peja, Okafor, Posey, and a first rounder if needed to make Philly bite?? Im thinkin CP could really make AI's stats soar, could really feed and set up Elton like he needs to be, and could help Dalembert in the same way he helped Chandler (although not to that extent but i could still see some nice alleys between them). I know thats a really big trade but i think it helps both teams. They could even throw in Wright and have Philly throw in Holiday to give Philly even more incentive if the 1st rounder doesnt work....