Yahoo.com reporter Adrian Wojnarowski writes that powerbroker William Wesley has been pitching teams with salary-cap space that trading for New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul will dramatically increase their chances of signing LeBron James. But New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower has no intention of trading Paul, writes Wojnarowski, and multiple league executives believe that until owner George Shinn closes on the...
New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, left, passes over the reach of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams.Yahoo.com reporter Adrian Wojnarowski writes that powerbroker William Wesley has been pitching teams with salary-cap space that trading for New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul will dramatically increase their chances of signing LeBron James.
But New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower has no intention of trading Paul, writes Wojnarowski, and multiple league executives believe that until owner George Shinn closes on the team’s sale with billionaire oilman Gary Chouest, there is a price with which Paul could be pried away.
“He can be had with Shinn in there, but once the new guy takes over, he’s off the market,” one senior front-office executive told Y! Sports.
Can Wesley deliver Paul? Extremely doubtful, but that hasn’t stopped his sales pitch to teams, league sources said. First of all, Paul hasn’t requested a trade out of New Orleans, so the franchise isn’t under pressure to move him. He has two years and $31.3 million left on his contract until he can opt out before the 2012-13 season.
James is close friends with Paul.