Anybody who thinks Paul betrayed the team is wrong.

gold_leader64 · Post #1 » by **gold_leader64** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:43 am

I've seen several comments from hornet fans on fan forums about thinking Paul betrayed the team, and deserves to be boo'd. This is simply incorrect.

"Well, he's demanding a trade!"

No, he's not. Unlike Lebron, he informed the team that he wasn't going to sign an extension and stay with the team, giving them the opportunity to obtain some assets instead of watching Paul walk for nothing. His agent is the one who informed the team of his preferred destinations, but nowhere has it been confirmed that Paul either demanded to be dealt or refused to play. He reported to camp, and has said he will play if he's not traded.

"But, he's not loyal!"

Giving the team a heads up that he will exercise his free agent RIGHTS once he's no longer under contract is not disloyalty. I'm sure many of you have switched jobs before. Would you turn down your RIGHT to a better position, just because your co-workers may not want you to leave? Paul has fulfilled every obligation to the team, committed to signing an extension a few years back to give this team a shot, and now it's time for him to move on. Just because you may not want that to happen doesn't make Paul the villain. He's been a character, stand up role model since day one, and being a fan of the hornets from their days in Charlotte, I can tell you he's the best player to ever put on a hornet uniform. He doesn't deserve to be vilified for this.

RiversideClips · Post #2 » by **RiversideClips** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:04 pm

Nice, Honest post. Paul has tried to be courteous & professional about the situation, Stern has vetoed 2 trades. Will Stern veto ALL Paul trades & make Paul out to be a cry baby? Remember, Paul is the player that Called Stern out during the new CBA, Stern wants revenge.

basketballdario · Post #3 » by **basketballdario** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:02 pm

This is such a **** argument.

gold_leader64 · Post #4 » by **gold_leader64** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:49 pm

basketballdario wrote:This is such a **** argument.

Provide any kind of substantial point to the contrary.

ib4 · Post #5 » by **ib4** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:44 pm

RiversideClips wrote:Nice, Honest post. Paul has tried to be courteous & professional about the situation, Stern has vetoed 2 trades. Will Stern veto ALL Paul trades & make Paul out to be a cry baby? Remember, Paul is the player that Called Stern out during the new CBA, Stern wants revenge.

interesting point...could 100% see Stern doing this, because well, he's David Stern

RiversideClips · Post #6 » by **RiversideClips** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:20 am

Hey "IB4" Look at how Stern is playing w/ Paul, the Hornets & the Clippers. I wonder if Stern is watching Janet Jackson's "Control" video as he screws w/ people.

_Nashoholic_ · Post #7 » by **_Nashoholic_** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:22 am

Sounds like someone has a Chris Paul bias

gold_leader64 · Post #8 » by **gold_leader64** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:31 pm

_Nashoholic_ wrote:Sounds like someone has a Chris Paul bias

Are you referring to me? If so...

...no, I just don't have a NOLA bias.

Jester_ · Post #9 » by **Jester_** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:07 pm

Paul is/has been a consummate professional his entire career.

Karl Marx · Post #10 » by **Karl Marx** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:42 pm

gold_leader64 wrote:Giving the team a heads up that he will exercise his free agent RIGHTS once he's no longer under contract is not disloyalty.

Clippers had leverage on the Hornets because everybody knew Paul would not re-sign with the Hornets. If that is not disloyalty, I don't know what is.

NO-KG-AI · Post #11 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:24 pm

But Paul isn't obligated to resign here, and he wasn't going to sit out, he would play his last year out.

GodDamnRobin · Post #12 » by **GodDamnRobin** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:43 am

What did you think of Lebron leaving Gold Leader? I'm curious.

GodDamnRobin · Post #13 » by **GodDamnRobin** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:44 am

Karl Marx wrote:
gold_leader64 wrote:Giving the team a heads up that he will exercise his free agent RIGHTS once he's no longer under contract is not disloyalty.

Clippers had leverage on the Hornets because everybody knew Paul would not re-sign with the Hornets. If that is not disloyalty, I don't know what is.

You have chosen your username well.

Karl Marx · Post #14 » by **Karl Marx** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:47 pm

GodDamnRobin wrote:You have chosen your username well.

I like to think so. Thanks.

We know Paul was not obligated to re-sign here. If he had to re-sign with the Hornets his loyalty would not be tested. But because he was not obligated to re-sign his loyalty was tested and he decided to opt-out or even force a trade by declining he will not re-sign. I do respect him, he was fair to let his team know in advance but the fact of the matter is: he did not want to stay in New Orleans.

GodDamnRobin · Post #15 » by **GodDamnRobin** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:54 pm

The first thing the players/teams tell you in interviews about free agency, etc, is "this is a business". As fans you need to understand that too.

gold_leader64 · Post #16 » by **gold_leader64** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:44 pm

GodDamnRobin wrote:What did you think of Lebron leaving Gold Leader? I'm curious.

He could have handled his situation far differently. Everybody knew he had checked out, with all the personal crap that rumored during the playoffs and how he had seemingly folded, it was evident he was leaving. But, he didn't give the team a definite decision behind closed doors to let them work a deal. Instead, he strung everybody along and made a spectacle out of the decision, but it's hard to blame him considering he's only acting like the person that basketball created, which is another discussion entirely.

Point blank: Any obligations Paul had to the team were coming to an end, and he did what was best for the hornets, behind closed doors, and not in the media.

gold_leader64 · Post #17 » by **gold_leader64** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:46 pm

Karl Marx wrote:
gold_leader64 wrote:Giving the team a heads up that he will exercise his free agent RIGHTS once he's no longer under contract is not disloyalty.

Clippers had leverage on the Hornets because everybody knew Paul would not re-sign with the Hornets. If that is not disloyalty, I don't know what is.

Then you really don't know what loyalty is, because being loyal is fulfilling your word and your obligations in good times and bad, which is what Paul has done and was prepared to do. Loyalty isn't choosing to sign yet another contract to remain at one employer when there are better opportunities available. If Paul wasn't dealt, he would be on the court in a NOLA uni, until his contract was up.

madmaxmedia · Post #18 » by **madmaxmedia** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:36 pm

Karl Marx wrote:
gold_leader64 wrote:Giving the team a heads up that he will exercise his free agent RIGHTS once he's no longer under contract is not disloyalty.

Clippers had leverage on the Hornets because everybody knew Paul would not re-sign with the Hornets. If that is not disloyalty, I don't know what is.

Why else would the Hornets look to trade Paul? It's pretty obvious regardless of what the player says or does not say. A player can say all the right things and everyone will still know what is up.

The alternative is for Paul to lie and say 'I can't wait to sign my next deal here!", but again that is totally incongruent with the team trying to trade (or even listening to offers) for Paul.

Stannis · Post #19 » by **Stannis** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:57 pm

The Hornets really did not get much for CP3. Knicks gave up the house for Melo. New Orleans basically just go Eric Gordan.

Edumacated · Post #20 » by **Edumacated** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:16 am

I don't think he betrayed the Hornets either. He told the organization that he was going to leave and the team got some good assets out of it. His reaction to the veto could have been handled better though (i.e. shouldn't have threatened to sue the NBA). Like others have said, he can go where ever he wants as a free agent. It's his right.