Sorry, NBA fans, but it appears as if there won’t be another star trio assembled in the league as NBA star guard Chris Paul promised last week, according to several reports.
After watching LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh group up in Miami, Paul told reporters last week that he wanted to be traded from the New Orleans Hornets so that he can join up with fellow superstars too. But after a meeting with new Hornets General Manager Dell Demps and new head coach Monty Williams, it’s now likely that Paul will be staying put.
The three-time All-Star and 2004-05 Rookie of the Year award winner didn’t speak directly to the media, but the team released a statement from him that expressed his interest in remaining a Hornet. “The meeting went well. It was great to get an opportunity to sit down with coach Williams, president Weber and our new general manager, Dell Demps,” Paul’s statement read. “I expressed my desire to win and I like what they said about the direction that they want to take the team. I have been a Hornet my entire career and I hope to represent the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana for many years to come.”
Just days earlier, several reports had Paul requesting the Hornets trade him to either the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks or Portland Trail Blazers. According to ESPN, he even fired his agent and hired Leon Rose, who also represents LeBron.
But trading a player of Paul’s caliber is highly unlikely, and he would have to wait at least two years before he can opt out of his current contract with New Orleans. After their meeting, the Hornets are now confident that Paul will stay in New Orleans longer than two years. “It was a very productive meeting. I was encouraged,” Demps told the media. “It was the first time I met Chris. It was a good opportunity for us to open the lines of communication. Chris had some very good points. … He was energetic. He was open. He was honest. He showed that he wants to win, and that’s what we want to do as well.”
Paul has averaged 19 points and 10 assists throughout his five seasons in the NBA, and is regarded as arguably the best point guard in the league.
