LeBron Fantasy vs. CP3 Reality

As the "fantasy land" of a potential Dwyane Wade-LeBron James partnership next summer begins to settle a wee bit for now, there very well could be other blockbuster unions available for the Heat.

That said, there aren't many that would be worth sacrificing Miami's spending flexibility in the free-agency market that opens July 1, 2010. While James-Wade in the MIA might be a lot of fun to think about, it still seems to be a bit far fetched.

Not saying it can't or won't happen. Just saying.

Meanwhile, there's a meltdown-soon-to-turn-fire-sale going on out west with Golden State. Stephen Jackson has demanded a trade. Monta Ellis wants in one week and out the next and is no longer hiding his disdain for coach Don Nelson.

There's a mess in Memphis, where the Grizzlies lack of chemistry and leadership existed long before Hurricane Iverson blew through the franchise and wrecked shop less than a month into the season. Now, Zach Randolph is addressing a lack of leadership. O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay, who will be a free agent, are barking at one another on the bench. At other times, they aren't talking at all.

Still, none of those situations are worth sacrificing Miami's flexibility next season to make a move this season. But there is a place that might prove ripe for the pilfering: New Orleans.

The Hornets are two seasons removed from being the league's most dangerous up-and-coming contender. Now, after a disappointing drop-off last season and a poor start this season, they've fired coach Byron Scott. That move was made without consulting star guard and face-of-the-franchise Chris Paul.

Paul's frustration dates to last season when the franchise botched the Tyson Chandler-to-Oklahoma City trade. On top of that, Paul and fellow Hornets All-Star David West don't seem to be on the same page.

So here's the deal. If Paul is not long for New Orleans, a team that always seems to be in the cost-cutting business and has had revenue-generating  issues for years, might he be available despite recently signing a lucrative contract extension?

If Paul (pictured below left playing with Wade's son, Zaire, at a recent Summer Groove) wants out - and New Orleans wants a fresh start and to get from under the remaining three years and roughly $50 million left on his contract - the Heat should do all it can to get in on the process.

Heat owner Micky Arison was adamant this week when he said too much talk has been focused on Miami's plans for the summer of  2010 when potential moves might be available far sooner. A realistic shot to get CP3 now would be worth sacrificing a potential pipe dream pursuit of LeBron.

The questions are: What might it take to pry Paul from New Orleans. Or better yet, what are the Heat willing to give up to get him. To get any star of that magnitude, you have to have a combination of expiring contracts, young talent and draft picks.

Check. Check. And check for the Heat. Between $40 million in expiring contracts, a handful of young and inexpensive prospects and draft picks, the Heat has more chips than Lays right about now. While I think dreaming up blockbuster trades is mainly a waste of time, there does come a time when one makes sense. So try this one on for size.

Heat gets: Chris Paul and Darius Songaila.

Hornets get: Quentin Richardson, Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Miami's 1st-round pick in 2010 and the Heat's $4.2 million trade exception from the Toronto trade.

The skinny is this. Paul earns about $13-14 million this season. The combined salaries of Richardson (expiring $9), Beasley ($5 in second year of rookie contract) and Chalmers ($800K, in second year of three-year deal) would fit within the salary-matching structure for Paul.

But chances are, New Orleans would want more, which is where the first-round pick comes in. Miami has two: Its own as well as the one that would come from Toronto should the Raptors make the playoffs this season. And New Orleans might also want to dump Songaila's contract ($4.5 this year, with a player option next season). The Heat could send over that $4.2 million trade exception in a seperate transaction.

This deal might work because it would be equally rewarding and painful for both teams. New Orleans can develop Beasley in a frontcourt with West and Emeka Okafor. Richardson's contract would come off the books after the season. And Chalmers could develop a nice 1-2 combo at point guard with rookie draft pick Darren Collison. The first-round pick is what it is. And the $4.2 trade exception (which can be used or not) gets the Hornets out of Songaila's two-year deal.

The Heat gets a legitimate point guard to pair with Wade for the long haul. And it would be the sort of bold move that also would get Wade's signature on that extension before he ever hits the free-agent market in July. And still, the Heat could be in position to target a major free agent from that high-profile class. 

Much is made of the deep friendship Wade has with LeBron. But Wade seems to be just as fond of his relationship with Paul. As a matter of fact, he's spent more time with Paul over the last two offseasons than he has with any of his elite pals in the league.

Paul was among the first to volunteer his summer to play in those pick-up games with Wade in Chicago as he was preparing to get his body right for that Beijing Olympic run. Wade sat courtside at a Hornets game a year ago during a rehab stint away from the Heat. Wade and Paul (pictured right in China during the 2008 Olympics) have been in one another's hometown to help with the other's charity functions.

And it was Wade's mom and Paul's parents who sat courtside together at a Heat game last season trading playful barbs as their sons were battling on the court. So as fun as it might be to imagine Wade and LeBron in Miami, an MV3-CP3 backcourt wouldn't be a bad jackpot consolation prize. The only issue would be that Paul would have to find a new nickname and jersey number.

No. 3 is already taken. The question now is how much longer before Paul is up for grabs?

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Comments

[Heat-Struck]

I would love this!!! Especially since Beasley doesn't have the intelligence to be an elite NBA player, and he doesn't seem to fit on this team. Plus, with Wade and Paul in our back court... You think Bosh would hop on board for less than the max? I would say so. Paul, Wade & Bosh = Multiple Rings! Not sure if we could afford it though... Never wanted to spend the time doing to salary numbers.

[UD's biggest fan]

Yeah Beasley is four times the player Haslem is but he doesn't have the intelligence to be an elite player. Wade clearly, from his bad business deals, has that intelligence.

[jayp0106]

You IDIOTS!!! Why would you trade Richardson and Beasley for Paul.We wouldn't get any better.
1.We would be missing our defensive stopper in Richardson and our other scorer in Beasley he does have B-ball common sense so we can work with that. 2. Financial wise Paul would make more than Wade even if he signs next year's mega contract so Wade would no longer be our "star" player so then we wouldn't have any money left. I still can't believe you don't see Beasley as a star player. He does something that no other player on the heat does consistently shoot good not score good but shoot good. My goodness I'm not able to watch every game due to my geographical location but c'mon ppl be areal fan and watch how good our players are playing right now imagine if someone messes up that chemistry we have. Plus Pat wouldn't want anyone over Rio remember?

[hotleo20]

i like paul alot but with no big man worth a damn besides bealey i would say no. also i don't see wade as a catch and shoot type of player, basketball wise i would do it if it didn't involve beasley, he would be benefiting the most from paul's passing abilities.

[taheati]

By win-shares and/or any other credible, comprehensive metric, Paul deserved the regular season MVP in 2007-08 and was runner-up to LeBron in 2008-09 (sorry DWade, but it's a fact).

If Riley ever has serious reason to believe Wade would *not* re-up in 2010, Paul would be target #1 on my list for preemptive trades.

That's HOW much I think of Paul, who led undertalented Hornets team to 56 & 49 wins in the WEST over the last 2 seasons.

Byron Scott was not the problem in NOH and CP knew it. Paul, an exemplary player AND individual, reportedly stuck with Scott while his teammates, particularly David West, essentially quit.

Bowers (NOH GM) is a moron. But possibly and potentially, a HANDY moron.

If Bowers was DUMB enough to choose West (by heeding West's complaints about Scot) over Paul, Bowers could be just the right stiff to bite on the right or even not-so-right offer that saner GMs would reflexively refuse.

Plus, it's no secret George Shinn isn't quite Mark Cuban, Jerry Buss or Micky Arison when it comes to $pending and winning.

[taheati]

Re Paul & bigs.

Chandler's FG% at CHI was an average-for-big 51%.

Paul was a key if not THE key in upping Chandler's FG% to 62%, 62% and 56% when Chandler became a Hornet.

Post-trade, Chandler is back to his "Chicago self" at Charlotte, muddling along at 48%.

Shorter: Paul will help ANY big willing & able to be helped (it wasn't quite clear whether Okafor was willing *or* able this early in the season).

[taheati]

And Riley IS on the record about his willingness to do something NOW if that something was the right thing.

Riley isn't and never was married to a date or year regarding the championship move acquiring Paul would represent

Chris Paul is the dictionary definition of right at ANY cost.

[rockstarjc]

our team did great for Cavs... but there would be better for our team if only to have this trade... we need consistent & can defend on PG position... we lack a defender on SF position... we lack of wide body filling the lane & as well as rebounding... we lack of perimeter shooting guard that can back-up WADE consistently...

these like of players could be a great help on our team we could have them if we pursue a trade...

RUDY GAY, MARC GASOL, MONTA ELLIS OR G.WALLACE, AMARE STOUDEMIRE, BAYLESS, OUTLAW...

MIAMI TRADE...

HASLEM,CHALMERS, JONES, MAGLOIRE, DIAWARA,
Q-RICH, QUINN + DRAFT RIGTHS: BEVERLY & DOZIER + 2ND ROUND PICK & 1ST PICK (last) 2010 CLASS... WE GOT ALMOST 5M EXEPTIONS FROM TORONTO LAST YEAR ALSO WE HAVE A WIDE CAP SPACE...

WE RETAINED ;

sg WADE / COOK
pg ARROYO
sf D.WRIGHT
pf BEASLEY / RANDOLPH,S.
c O'NEAL,J. / ANTHONY,J.

WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE PLAYERS MENTION ABOVE THAT CAN FILL ALL NEEDED POSITION ON OUR TEAM... AT LEAST 3-4 OF THEM...

I CHOOSE...
*ELLIS(pg/sg)
*GAY OR G.WALLACE (sf-defender & can score)
*GASOL,MARC( could play pf/c & can rebound & can block the lane)
*AMARE STOUDEMIRE
*TRAVIS OUTLAW

MIAMI IS TAX FREE...
I JUST WANTING THIS TEAM TO WIN...

thougths???

[cp12]

I don''t know how it would work with Paul. Both he and Wade would need the ball. But Wade does play well off the ball....as we saw in the olympics.

Would we then bring B. Scott to coach?

Im going to try to enjoy this team as is for now. This speculation is dreamy, though.

www.blogmiamiheat.com

[JD]

its a no brainer if it did not involve beasley but that would just never happen so to me this whole idea of getting cp3 is crap....i like cp3 don't get me wrong, but he would not be worth the risk, i still don't think we would become contenders if we made the trade from this blog entry....it would not make financial nor basketball sense, i stick with my guns and take my chances in 2010, its that simple, the chance of landing lebron or bosh are much better than trading your future star for cp3....it would leave us stuck for a while with cp3, and what if it doesnt work? we are screwed people....hahahahha give beasley a chance here and stop making trade situations with him, it just does not help the heat, we invested the number 2 overall pick on him and he will be playing for 5 mil next year! come on now, you have to develop the guy and stick him with wade so they can get chemistry, again paul would just be great but only if he is here to help beasley and wade....2010 is the focus

[cp12]

I like Haslem as a player alot , but I honestly think we should trade him to Charlotte for Gerald Wallace. Wallace is the perfect player to compliment Michael Beasley. We would miss Haslem's consistency but gain the best rebounding forward in the league and play Bease 40 minutes a night. Finally, moving QRich to the bench just gives you another weapon. Do it Riley.

http://www.blogmiamiheat.com

[JPEJEFF]

For this year that trade would be a no brainer
.Paul is 1 of the few players,I would trade Beasley for since he is already at the level that I THINK Bees will be at 1 day.The problem is Wade with this trade.If he leaves next year,This would be a big blunder.We would
have traded for Paul for all you said and about 14 million of our cap space.Without Wade,Chalmers and Beasley,who would surround Paul.Even if we added Bosh with all the money
we had left it would not be enough.If Wade signature came with the trade,then you throw
in a 1st rd for 2011 if you have to get Paul.Two unselfish players like Wade and Paul would make it work.

[taheati]

"Permanently" retiring numbers is silly. Permanently retiring numbers league-wide is, I think, ABSURD.

The moratorium approach makes more sense with, say, "retirement" periods limited to 5 or 10 yrs. 10 yrs is more than enough time to honor the "recent" greatness of exceptional players. And, given LBJ's comparative amnesia regarding the greatness of Magic or Bird (and/or their predecessors), it's apparent player memories have a limited shelf life anyway.

Either that or it's WAY past time to implement a 3-digit numbering system in a league of 450 players where even the lowliest reserves are likely to see court time during the season.

"We would miss Haslem's consistency but gain the best rebounding forward in the league..."

---

I'm no Haslem fan but in what league is Gerald Wallace "the best rebounding forward in the league?"

It's true Wallace *currently* leads the league in total defensive rebounds.

But among active NBA forwards who've averaged 30+/mpg over the last 5 years, Wallace only ranks 29th in TRB/48m, 23rd in TRB% (Haslem = 20th TRB/48m, 57th TRB%).

I'm also not clued in to Larry Brown's latest crush(es). Does Brown reportedly have an interest in Haslem? Is Wallace in his doghouse?

Plus, if we have a choice, I'd prefer someone longer and more proven in *both* conferences.

There is something to the notion of "numbers" or "system" guys who built their reps on 1 team only to bomb on another. (ibid. Elton Brand, Okafor, Ben Wallace the Bull)

[taheati]

Disregard number-retirement grafs (from an earlier comment posted elsewhere) in the response.

[taheati]

[ But among active NBA forwards who've averaged 30+/mpg over the last 5 years, Wallace only ranks 29th in TRB/48m, 23rd in TRB% (Haslem = 20th TRB/48m, 57th TRB%). ] ===> http://bit.ly/gQL21

[pugtv]

We should bring in Byron Scott as head coach.

[thejuandiggler]

sTEALING MY THUNDER wALLACE...i POSTED THIS ABOUT A WEEK AGO. HAHA

[SoFloSportsFan]

No way you can trade Q Rich or Haslem. Q is our best on the ball defender and raining in 3s. Haslem is the man. He's a do it all beast (defends, rebounds, scores while shooting high percentage, scrappy team player).