3 The Hard Way! Report: Chris Paul asks for trade to NYC, but how?

After awhile , it can get embarrassing, reading other sites/blogs as they repeat the same old lines and repackaging them like they are new. As I pointed out in a previous post on this very blog, Chris Paul wants to be a Knick and has felt this way for quite a long time.

Now we have a report from the New York Daily News that Chris Paul has asked the Hornets to make a trade to the Knicks happen. However, this is old news, let's get to the good stuff.

HOW?

It has to be a three team trade. There has to be a third team that wants to shake up their roster to take on Billups contract (and perhaps one more) so they can have cap space following this season.

Here's the cast for this soap opera and the possible solutions that have not been considered as of  yet.

First, the players
New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul has an opt-out option after this season.
New York Knicks: Chancey Billups ; gets paid 14 million this year and then his contract expires.

Second: the hidden pieces
New York Knicks: Ronny Turiaf; gets paid just under 5 million this year; contract expires after this season

Potentially, the Knicks have nearly 20 million worth of players to give up to a team that needs cap space for next year. Now what team needs to blow up their roster and may have something worth passing along to the Hornets as far as players/picks.

Third: Teams that have players to give up that match the contracts they take back

Atlanta Hawks:
Josh Smith/Kirk Hinrich to the Hornets; Chauncey Billups/Ronny Turiaf to the Hornets, Chris Paul to the Knicks

Josh Smith: 12.4 million signed till 2012-2013, Kirk Hinrich: 8 million free agent after this season.
Chaunecy Billups: 14.2 million free agent after this season. Ronny Turiaf 4.36 mil free agent after this season

The Hawks would have a PG in Billups, Joe Johnson at the SG and Al Horford at PF and Turiaf at Center. Billups and Turiaf contract ends after this season and the Hawks can go shopping for a new pg/Center or maybe even keep Billups with their MLE and still have room for new free agents.

The Hornets get a young defensive minded player who has been waiting to be the man in Josh Smith and Kirk Hinrich is an experienced PG who's contract ends after this season. Two years to try out Josh Smith, Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor as a strong front court is better than watching Chris Paul walk off to the Knicks for nothing.

Memphis Grizzlies
Rudy Gay to the Hornets; Chauncey Billups (need a second contract , perhaps Balkman) to the Grizzlies, Chris Paul to the Knicks

Rudy Gay;15 mil signed till 2015-2016

Rudy Gay is owed 15 mil and signed till 2014-2015 and a supreme talent. However, the Grizzlies showed they could do a lot of damage without Rudy Gay. This way Grizzlies get a veteran PG in Billups to help Memphis make another push this year and then have more cap space next year after Billups contract expires. The Hornets get a strong player in Gay who can put up points fast and the idea of Ariza and Gay on defense together could be a scary one for the league.

Milwaukee Bucks
Andre Bogut, Shaun Livingston or Carlos Delfino to the Hornets; Chauncey Billups to the Bucks, Chris Paul to the Knicks


Andrew Bogut: 12.1 million this year; signed thru 2013-2014

Andrew Bogut was the number one pick for the Bucks several  years ago and while he has a good career, a change of scenery may be a good idea. Hornets get a young center to create a scary line-up of Bogut, Okafor and Ariza. Billups can be a mentor for the talented but somewhat reckless Brandon Jennings, while adding a veteran presence. Once Billups contract ends after the season, the Bucks will have a lot more cap space than they would with Bogut still signed to them.

While their a lot of other crazy scenarios, these are what I found to be most beneficial to all teams involved. Plus the teams I mentioned have been in the rumors of other sites/blogs for a possible trade.

Overall, I see the Hawks trade as the best one for the Hornets. Smith with Okafor and Ariza for two solid years (injuries notwithstanding) could really be something. Get the right free agent pick-up or draft pick and the Hornets may really have something.

Thoughts?