Joe Dumars should go after New Orleans point guard Chris Paul.
It's not as outrageous as you might think.
New Orleans remains in worse economic shape than Detroit. The Hornets announced recently that they'll tap into the $175-million line of credit the NBA established to assist teams through these turbulent fiscal waters.
Overall league revenues are falling and the salary cap might drop to the neighborhood of $57 million come July 1. The Hornets are currently $20 million over that figure for next season, according to Hoopshype.com, pushing them beyond the luxury tax threshold unless they pare significant payroll while receiving minimal in return.
Paul is the game's best point guard. He has a four-year, $63.6-million contract extension kicking in next season that the Hornets cannot afford unless they part with most of his high-priced supporting cast -- center Tyson Chandler, perimeter bomber Peja Stojakovic, power forward David West and valuable sixth man James Posey.
But should they part with some of those players for the sake of keeping Paul long-term, then there's no support for a legitimate championship run and the Hornets are dead in the nest.
The Pistons stand in perfect position this summer, with nearly $20 million of salary-cap space, for inheriting another team's contractual millstone through a trade.
It's understandably a longshot for Paul, but why not shoot for the ultimate?
New Orleans was in trouble before Hurricane Katrina blasted it four years ago. Corporate funding remains the life blood of professional sports because it helps keep those stadium and arena luxury suites filled at premium rates. New Orleans was home to only one Fortune 500 corporation before the levees collapsed.
Detroit was home to 15 Fortune 500 corporations in 2005, more than two-thirds directly connected to the domestic automobile industry, explaining why Detroit is currently one of only two cities with four professional teams in four separate facilities.
The Hornets' embarrassing five-game exit from the first round of the playoffs, including an unheard-of 58-point home loss in Game 4, only accentuated the panic within the franchise. They aren't as close to reaching the NBA elite as they thought a year ago, and they're looking at as radical a personnel transformation as the Pistons because the Hornets must cut costs.
Paul and New Orleans might provide Detroit with a basketball bailout.
it would be a dream if we made that move...but im not sure who NO would want...probably stuckey and some others i would try and swing a deal but realistically i dont see it happening
bring bramos home!!!!!!
Posts: 671 | Location: DETROIT | Registered: February 17, 2004
Originally posted by Mc's Suits: it would be a dream if we made that move...but im not sure who NO would want...probably stuckey and some others i would try and swing a deal but realistically i dont see it happening
ya honestly the best package Detroit could send wouldn't even come close. i understand the article though, they really got SHUT DOWN by the Nuggets and I think they have a lot of contracts still with their role players.
West is not all people crack him up to be. He is a face up, away from the basket kind of player. You are basically looking at Dice and while a nice player, is not going to change this team like it needs to be changed.
quote:
Originally posted by The Original King Box Est. 1992: everything on this message board is pointless.
Posts: 5380 | Location: Detroit, MI | Registered: December 13, 2002
"When you are running an organization, you have to have the vision and the foresight to be able to change and put the team through transition," Dumars said. "But you also have to be patient enough to sit back and allow it to play out.
Posts: 4909 | Location: The Tay | Registered: December 17, 2003
"When you are running an organization, you have to have the vision and the foresight to be able to change and put the team through transition," Dumars said. "But you also have to be patient enough to sit back and allow it to play out.
Posts: 4909 | Location: The Tay | Registered: December 17, 2003
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