Chris Paul in Bobcats' future PG plans?

by James Dator on May 2, 2010 1:06 PM EDT

There aren't too many opportunities in the NBA to right a previous wrong, but the Bobcats may have that opportunity come the Summer of 2012. On draft night nobody knew Sean May would turn into the stay puff marshmallow man as a pro, and though it was clear the Bobbies missed out on the top two PGs of the 2005 draft (Deron Williams and Chris Paul) they were excited to have the Tar Heels' championship winning tandem.

Thus, when they were approached by the New Orleans Hornets after the draft and offered Chris Paul in exchange for Raymond Felton and Sean May I can see why the Bobcats' front office didn't jump at the deal. However, while listening to WFNZ on my Friday drive home from work they were discussing a burgeoning relationship between CP3 and MJ, and how he could definitely be in their future plans.

Granted, it's insanely early for 2012 prognostication and/or rosterbation- but this is a move that makes a lot of sense for the Bobcats both on talent and marketing level. The 2012 free agent class isn't quite as robust as 2010, but it's still studded with talent. Headlined by Chris Paul there will be several players who will command max level deals.

Paul is local to the area and it's no coincidence that he sat next to Michael Jordan for both of the Bobcats' home playoff games, witnessing a team on the rise while languishing on a roster in decline. From a marketing/endorsement level too he's a member of Team Jordan, which could help synergy if he came to the area.

As it stands the Bobcats are clearing more money in 2012 than any other team. With Boris Diaw's contract ending and Tyson Chandler and Nazr Mohammad coming off the books it seems like the perfect storm for the Bobcats to offer a max level deal to Chris Paul. Provided the organization retain their nucleus and draft intelligently the addition of Paul would be the kind of move that could take the Bobcats to the next level.

As I mentioned before, two Summers is a long way off- but a definite possibility for the future.

Poll

Would it be worth saving money to sign Chris Paul in 2012?

Yes

85 votes

No

22 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Depends on his injury status over the next couple years

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by Ben Swanson on May 2, 2010 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah Chandler's money will be off the books by then.

But the Cats have immediate holes to fill that won’t wait until Paul is available.
There are far too many “ifs” involved in this for me to consider it. I would jump at the chance to get him on the squad – anyone with half a brain would – but even if we can snag him when the time comes, the money from Chandler will be long gone. If Brown is still coaching the squad the money will be used up in trying to placate his insatiable need to bring in new players and tinker with his lineup.

I’m probably the lone wolf on this one, but I think that if we either use Chandler this season as bait or use his money next summer wisely, our team will be improved enough to be true contenders with or without CP3.

by Ourdaywillcome on May 2, 2010 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

+1

by Ft.Mill Bobcat on May 2, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Good point

by andrewlail76 on May 2, 2010 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I think trading for CP3 is far more viable

The Hornets may be cleaning house soon and they have some really good rookie deal guards on their roster

by and1droid on May 11, 2010 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions

We reunite Chandler and CP3?

Hell…why not

by andrewlail76 on May 11, 2010 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

doesn't matter

Steph Curry won’t be out west for TOO long. Daddy wants that boy to come home!

"Smokey this isn't 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules!"

by HAWKEYESBABY on May 3, 2010 1:07 AM EDT reply actions

That would be the instant offense I'd like to add

by andrewlail76 on May 3, 2010 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Can you add a...

“HELL YES!” option for the poll??

I didn’t feel like the options captured my true emotions….

by jkp1516 on May 6, 2010 10:27 AM EDT reply actions

only if you add a "HELL NO!" option as well

signing CP3 as a free agent is a bit of a pipe dream right now

by and1droid on May 11, 2010 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions

No.

Paul has declined and will continue to decline, and the injury situation is going to get worse.
By this time hoping Paul will be a superstar is a pipedream. He would be worth picking up, but not anything close to a max contract. Too much money to pay a chair.

by lightknightpete on May 6, 2010 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

Felton is more durable.

by Ft.Mill Bobcat on May 6, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

So are a lot of players that don’t hold a candle to CP. By the time he’s a free agent, he’ll be the unquestioned best PG in the NBA if he isn’t already. He’s a max player in the same way that Wade is a max player.

by ClipCat on May 7, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

or he'll be a player who can't beat his own injuries

by Ft.Mill Bobcat on May 7, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Just so we're on the same page:

Chris Paul and Raymond Felton came into the league in the same year.

Over that time period Chris Paul has played in 345 regular season games, Felton has played in 399 regular season games.

Paul missed 37 games in 2009-10 due to a torn meniscus, the same injury Kobe Bryant sustained and had surgery for in 2006. Was Kobe injury prone or ‘finished’?

Take away those 37 games and Paul has started 382 to Felton’s 399… not as big a difference as you guys are making it out to be.

Most importantly:
Paul is a career 19.3 ppg, 10 apg, 4.7 rpg player on 0.473 shooting
Felton is a 13.3 ppg, 6.4 apg, 3.4 rpg player on 0.410 shooting

No comparison

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
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by James Dator on May 7, 2010 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions