Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc Spears have the scoop:
Chris Paul’s agent informed New Orleans officials on Wednesday that his client will not sign a contract extension and wants to be traded to the New York Knicks, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
As soon as the NBA lifts its lockout restrictions, Hornets general manager Dell Demps wants to meet with Paul and hear that directive from him.
Nevertheless, the prospects of the Hornets executing a trade with the Knicks appear to be relatively dim. The Knicks simply don’t have the trade assets that come close to meeting New Orleans’ criteria for a deal. Demps has been listening to overtures from teams around the league, and has been actively working under the assumption that Paul would reject a contract extension.
…
If Paul were to opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent after this season, he could sign a maximum four-year, $74 million deal with another team. The Knicks currently would have enough salary-cap room to offer him a four-year, $55.5 million contract with a starting salary of $13 million.
There's no way Paul is going to the Knicks via a trade. Not even a third team can help the cause.
Why? Because outside of Amare and Melo, the Knicks have nothing of significant value to offer anyone. Check the roster. Chauncey Billups comes with a $13 million cinderblock contract. Landry Fields is, meh. Toney Douglas and Bill Walker excite… no one.
Good luck on this one, Dell Demps. Now pour yourself a double.
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