WalterFootball.com - Detailed NFL Mock Drafts, Player Prospect Rankings, and One of the Largest Mock Draft Databases on the Web

2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com

Chris Paul Trade Analysis - Dec. 15

Los Angeles Clippers Get: PG Chris Paul, two second-round picks
New Orleans Hornets Get: SG Eric Gordon, C Chris Kaman, SF Al-Farouq Aminu, 2012 First-Round Pick (via Minnesota)

Why this makes sense for Los Angeles:

Tired of being the red-headed stepchild NBA franchise in L.A., the Clippers make a major splash by acquiring one of the top point guards in the league and deliver a slap in the face to their neighbor Lakers who struck out in their attempt to land Paul. It did cost them a pretty penny in two up-and-coming wing players along with a likely high draft pick. To take a shot at pairing Paul with Blake Griffin seems worth the risk even if CP3 is in the final year of his deal and not immediately willing to sign a long-term extension.

What is interesting is the Clippers now have four point guards: Paul, the recently claimed-off-waivers Chauncy Billups, Mo Williams and Eric Bledsoe. They also have combo guard Randy Foye so it will be interesting to see how the team plans to utilize all their point guards. The trade also leaves L.A. very thin up front with Brian Cook and rookie Trey Thompkins being the only reserves for starters Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

Why this makes sense for New Orleans:

Paul wasn't re-signing with the Hornets so they had to maximize his worth now and get the best offer in return adding some sorely needed depth to their roster. Gordon and Aminu give them two solid pieces for the future while the Timberwolves' first-round pick will likely add one of the top prospects in the 2012 NBA Draft. Gordon is the gem of this deal as he is developing into one of the top shooting guards in the league and will quickly become the new face of the franchise. He will be a restricted free agent next offseason so it will be interesting to see if he is willing to sign a long-term extension to stay in the Bayou.

Kaman will provide the Hornets with some size to pair up front with Emeka Okafor which was especially needed since David West signed with the Pacers. Plus, Kaman is in the final year of his deal so New Orleans could turn his expiring contract into another piece later in the season or allow his salary to come off the books after this year thus creating more cap space.

Winner: Depends

I say depends because if Paul ends up just being a one-year rental for the Clips, this trade tremendously backfires and the Hornets score a king's ransom, while L.A. once again has to work their way up from the bottom. If Paul ends up staying with the Clippers for the long-term, then they are on the verge of becoming a championship-caliber team. Should be interesting...

Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
2011 NBA Offseason Winners - 12/23
2011 NBA Offseason Losers - 12/23
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/22
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/20
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/16
Chris Paul Trade Analysis - 12/15
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/14
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/10
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/9
Five Players Likely to Be Traded After NBA Lockout - 7/7
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southwest Division - 7/6
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division - 7/5
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Pacific Division - 7/3
Cavaliers-Kings Trade Recap - 7/1
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Atlantic Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Central Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southeast Division - 6/29
2011 NBA Draft Trade Recaps - 6/25
2011 NBA Draft: Bobcats-Kings-Bucks Three-Way Trade - 6/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Kyrie Irving Ready to be a Franchise Point Guard - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kemba Walker is the Most Undervalued Player in the Draft - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Derrick Williams a Power Forward or Small Forward? - 6/22
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Wait, Kansas' Marcus and Markieff Morris are Twins??? - 6/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock - 6/18
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Tristan Thompson Benefits from Weak Draft Class - 6/17
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kawhi Leonard's Versatility is His Biggest Asset - 6/14
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Chris Singleton is a Lottery Sleeper - 6/13
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Where Does JaJuan Johnson Fit in the NBA? - 6/11
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins Made Right Decision in Entering NBA Draft - 6/10
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Should a Marijuana Arrest Affect NBA Draft Stock? - 6/9
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Nolan Smith Has Different Identity On and Off Court - 6/7
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Wall Mentoring Darius Morris - 6/5
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Brandon Knight Worth Third Overall Pick? - 6/2
Rumor: Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons Discussing 3-Way Trade - 5/29
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him - 5/28
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Marshon Brooks Rising Up Draft Boards - 5/26
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Alec Burks Connected to Bobcats - 5/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Combine Measurements - 5/21
Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - 5/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Day 1 - 5/20
2011 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/16
2011 NBA Free Agents - 5/3
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home

John L. 07-07-2011 11:20 am xxx.xxx.xxx.140 (total posts: 2)

You forgot the most likely - Pau Gasol. The Lakers know they need to make a move, and Gasol wants out. Don't be shocked when he's sent to an Eastern Conference team like Atlanta or Orlando.

Dave 07-07-2011 09:23 am xxx.xxx.xxx.159 (total posts: 2)

I don't quite completely understand. If the team cuts a player, and still has to pay the player's salary, what's the point of it?

nycsportzfan 07-07-2011 05:44 am xxx.xxx.xxx.134 (total posts: 1)

I think it would be wise for the knicks to look into trying to obtain Chris Kaman, and going way of hte Mavericks and builidng like that.. Give em Landry Fields and toney douglas, and then u got Melo, Amare, Kaman, Billups, Shumpert, re-sign Shawne Williams, Turiaf, harrelson, re-sign ant carter, sign Deshawn Stevenson, rautins, and re-sign bill walker..THen u have more money after the season as well..

Kaman
Amare
Melo
Shumpert
Billups

Shawne Williams(re-signed
Turiaf
Deshawn Stevenson(sign)
Harrelson
Ant Carter(re-sign)
Rautins
Bill Walker(re-sign)

jgardner12 07-02-2011 01:21 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.37 (total posts: 2)

Ahh did not know that part of the rule, thanks for clearing that up for me.

David Kay 07-01-2011 04:51 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.17 (total posts: 1)

@jgardner12 The rule in 2005 stated a team cannot re-sign the player they cut... which is why I would be hesitant to cut Johnson especially with Crawford a free agent, suddenly you have no shooting guard.

@waltair I believe the fifth year has an option on it, so I should have stated three-years, $21 million guaranteed

waltair 06-30-2011 02:56 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3)

LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT

waltair 06-30-2011 02:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3)

outlaw has 4 year 28 mil on his contract

jgardner12 06-30-2011 01:01 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.37 (total posts: 2)

While I understand staying loyal to your star, the hawks should defiantly use it on Johnson. JJ is a wonderful player and they want him in ATL but seriously the dude isn't worth it. I mean the money he has left is close to the amount that Wade took to stay in Miami.. Again while I understand the predicament a JJ led team isn't going to win anything so might as well admit your mistake of signing him and sign him if possible to a more in line contract..

Walter 06-30-2011 01:24 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10)

@Dave - Now I do. The only Allen error was in the header, hence it was an editing mistake on my part. David spelled Allan correctly everywhere else.

Dave 06-29-2011 04:59 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.25 (total posts: 1)

You do know it's spelled A-L-L-A-N, right?

Mile High 06-25-2011 11:20 am xxx.xxx.xxx.153 (total posts: 1)

the reason the Nuggets dealt Felton was because he wants to be a starter, which he will never be in Denver. Ty Lawson is the Franchise guard, and keeping Felton impedes his progress. Therefore, they traded Felton, a rising star with high value, for Miller, who will accept coming off the bench, plus they picked up Hamilton who they were targeting.

Captain Obvious 06-24-2011 10:41 pm xxx.xxx.xxx2.25 (total posts: 1)

You said:
"After Thursday evening, it will mark three years in a row that a point guard went first overall..."
WTF happened to Blake Griffin??? LOL.

waltair 06-21-2011 09:41 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3)

waltare you need a cheif editor this is bad

Walter 06-21-2011 01:43 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10)

Thanks, Fitz. Fixed.

Austin 06-19-2011 01:18 am xxx.xxx.xxx8.49 (total posts: 1)

If Leonard can prove he is capable of knocking down shots, the raptors might reach for him at five, he can provide the rebounding that their bigs, not pointing fingers but a seven foot i-tie, don't. It's a reach for sure, but it might be a good fit. He will also improve their abominable defense.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 56 7

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3

2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG

2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23

2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)

2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports

2010-11 NBA Season Previews

2009 NBA Draft Grades

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 19

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 16

2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 15

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Leave a comment