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That is to say, if you're Ainge, and you'd an opportunity to either trade for Paul at some point, or wait and try to sign Durant to a longterm contract. Which choice would you take?

I ask since Ainge doesn't believe Rondo is a maximum contract player right now, and Pierce isn't getting younger. First, I'll say, I'm a fan of both players and this isn't an implication I want to see either traded. I'm just throwing the question out there.

To answer my own question, I would wait and see if Boston is a team Durant would've a serious interest in playing for.

I believe Durant can become a FA or he'll be RFA by 2011. Will Oklahoma City "break the bank" to retain him? Boston will have Garnett and R. Wallace still under contract in 2011-2012. But, preferably, you want Pierce resigned for a lesser contract.

Conversely, Paul would be a welcome but if you've Rondo, and can convince he and agent to sign for a contract that isn't for the maximum, you don't need to replace him.

It's possible the NBA could end up bringing back the amnesty rule that resulted in teams saving millions of dollars in luxury tax during the summer of 2005.

When the NBA reached an agreement on its current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that summer, teams were allowed a one-time opportunity to waive one player and not have to pay any luxury tax on him. The player, though, got the full amount remaining on his contract, and that counted against the salary cap.

With NBA economy in peril and the luxury tax next summer possibly dropping by more than $5 million from $69.92 million, NBA commissioner David Stern has spoken to owners about the possibility of the amnesty rule again surfacing, although any possible resurrection of that rule likely wouldn't be put on the table until late in the collective bargaining process.

If such a rule were to be implemented prior to the summer of 2011, which is when the current CBA will expire if the NBA doesn't pick up the 2011-12 option, it likely would have to be approved by both players and owners. But it could end up being part of the next CBA, and there's a chance the current one could be torn up and a new one implemented prior to 2011.

New Orleans star point guard Chris Paul insisted he was serious when he said there's a chance he soon could be traded.

Paul was interviewed Thursday by Pro Basketball News, and asked about his team's financial situation. The Hornets are staring at being well over the luxury tax, and might have to dump some big contracts.

"In this league, anything can happen," said Paul, at the summer league to watch his Hornets. "I can be dealt."

Paul then was asked that surely he can't be serious he could be traded.

"It's possible," he said. "It's possible."

The Hornets made a move last February to save money by dealing center Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma City. However, the trade ended up being rescinded after health concerns surfaced regarding Chandler.

Paul is hopeful the Hornets will end up retaining their key players, but knows nothing is certain.

http://www.probasketballnews.com/story/?storyid=647

Hmm, tough choice...but I go with Durant...

I'm not sold on both as Championship-level franchise players yet. While they are both pretty awesome for themselves, I've yet to see:

1. Chris Paul in a non-predictable offense
2. Kevin Durant impacting the game off the ball

Call me a hater, but that's how would call out their weaknesses. Right now I think Chris Paul has more positive impact, but his upside as a team player seems limited. Maybe I would tend to Kevin Durant.

I am a total Kevin Durant honk but if I can trade a package around Rondo for Chris Paul right now and add him to KG and Pierce that deal is done 100 times over. Ray and Rondo for Chris Paul and I will even take on some of their dead crap contracts done when does CP3 get here?

I love Durant and think he will probably end up leading the league in scoring maybe even win an MVP. But I don't think he fits with Boston or is nearly as championship ready as CP3.

Whats "championship ready" anyway? ... Its all about the team, and a team of Rondo, Durant, Pierce, KG, and Perk is a contender .... I would defiently choose Durant, because Rondo and Durant can be an effective duo ... we've seen how bad things can get when Paul is playing without weapons (last yrs playoffs) .. and with our big 3 getting old, we'd have to keep adding weapons for him ... but if we keep Rondo and add Durant, and keep Perk ... now we got a good young nucleus

For Boston, today, I take CP3. In a year or two I take Durant to slide into the Pierce void.

Point guard has a greater impact on a game, not to the extent a QB does on a football field but similar concepts. I take a great PG over a great SF any day.

Chris Paul is a **** monster...I would take him over just about any player in the league not named LeBron James/D-Wade...

Edug27 wrote:Whats "championship ready" anyway? ... Its all about the team, and a team of Rondo, Durant, Pierce, KG, and Perk is a contender .... I would defiently choose Durant, because Rondo and Durant can be an effective duo ... we've seen how bad things can get when Paul is playing without weapons (last yrs playoffs) .. and with our big 3 getting old, we'd have to keep adding weapons for him ... but if we keep Rondo and add Durant, and keep Perk ... now we got a good young nucleus

There is a development players need to go through. The first step is their individual skills, then how they utilize those skills to impact their teams bottom line, win games. From there you need to round out your game so that you can elevate your teammates and impact the game on both ends. Then the final step is usually overcoming some sort of adversity and dissappoingment. The time and pace is different for everyone.

Chris Paul is a very developed player. His own skills are refined, he wins games, and elevates his teamates and plays at both ends. He also has dealt with some adversity last season.

Now Durant only played one year at college and his game is still coming together. I think you are talking about another year or two before he is really a championship caliber player, and he will need some things to go right around him for him to get into the winning situation you need to become that.

Hmm, this is a toughie.

Does Tony Durant come with Kevin?

WE HAVE 0% CHANCE AT GETTING CHRIS PAUL!!!!! If we could Id take Paul, I could actually see KD35 coming here for some reason but WE HAVE 0% CHANCE AT GETTING CHRIS PAUL!!!!

Tricky Ricky wrote:WE HAVE 0% CHANCE AT GETTING CHRIS PAUL!!!!! If we could Id take Paul, I could actually see KD35 coming here for some reason but WE HAVE 0% CHANCE AT GETTING CHRIS PAUL!!!!

Why? Seriously if he is being dealt it is likely because of the money, they are going to want to unload salary and take back more affordable players back. I would think Rajon Rondo is exactly the kind of player they would want in return for Paul, a young star pg they can hopefully secure to a cheaper contract.

Very few teams are going to be willing to deal right now but Boston could. Add to that Paul is BYC so it has to be a big trade. Boston can trade Ray Allen and Rondo for Chris Paul and Peja, how many other teams can and will and have a young star pg to offer in return?

Durant... we already have a PG

Given that we'd almost certainly have to give up Rondo to get either, I'd go with CP3.
I think he's a better player overall (greater impact on D, plus a premium position).

Also, Durant over Paul is more logical for Boston for the reason that Rondo's a young player, perhaps not a franchise player, but a good player who can definitely be a part of your young nucleus. Having Durant, you make Pierce's transition to the bench smoother. Well, assuming Durant is a small forward here and not a shooting guard.

Not to mention, I like the idea of the passing of the torch from Pierce to Durant if Durant were to become a Celtic. Pierce had no qualms embracing Al Jefferson's emergence his last season with Boston. I fully would expect him to likewise embrace Durant as his possible heir apparent. I mean Pierce is a Celtic, drafted by Boston and will retire as a Celtic. Hopefully. And he'll want to prolong his career as long as he desires to play in the NBA. Pierce has reached that point in his career that a decrease in minutes can be good for his body, winning is what matters the most and how many more opportunities you can be in to win a championship. I'm probably getting ahead of myself with all of this. But could you imagine Pierce as a sixth man with Durant the starter? That is, if Pierce ages gracefully through his thirties to about thirty four or five. Maybe thirty-six. Then he might attempt to play overseas, and call it quits before age forty. I don't know, I'm just saying...

As someone mentioned, Rondo, Perkins and Durant is a good nucleus to build on. Just like Harris, B. Lopez and possibly Lee for New Jersey would be.

I can see trying to build a team around Rondo/Perk and Durant but if you do you aren't keeping Pierce and Garnett around for that, you go one way or the other. Paul would be the young legs to help carry Pierce and Garnett and Durant and is the replacement for Pierce in a new nucleus.

sully00 wrote:

Tricky Ricky wrote:WE HAVE 0% CHANCE AT GETTING CHRIS PAUL!!!!! If we could Id take Paul, I could actually see KD35 coming here for some reason but WE HAVE 0% CHANCE AT GETTING CHRIS PAUL!!!!

Why? Seriously if he is being dealt it is likely because of the money, they are going to want to unload salary and take back more affordable players back. I would think Rajon Rondo is exactly the kind of player they would want in return for Paul, a young star pg they can hopefully secure to a cheaper contract.

Very few teams are going to be willing to deal right now but Boston could. Add to that Paul is BYC so it has to be a big trade. Boston can trade Ray Allen and Rondo for Chris Paul and Peja, how many other teams can and will and have a young star pg to offer in return?

Hes Chris Paul, Im one of Rondos biggest fans but I just cant see NO doing this trade unless CP3 demanded a trade.

kd, he was supposed to be a celtic.