Earlier this week it was reported the New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul wanted to be traded. Several teams were mentioned as preferred choices of the dazzling point guard, including the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, and Portland Trailblazers, with the Knicks emerging as his favorite.
Friday night ESPN’s Chris Broussard cited league sources in reporting that the Magic have replaced the Knicks atop Paul’s wish list. The sources credited the presence of All-Star center Dwight Howard and Paul’s realization that the Magic have superior trade pieces to the Knicks as the reasoning for the change in order.
The New Jersey Nets and Portland Trailblazers were also singled out as two of many teams who would make offers for the 3-time All-Star.
On Monday Paul is expected to meet with Hornets president Hugh Weber, as well as Dell Webber and Monty Williams, New Orleans’ new general manager and coach, respectively. They will attempt to reaffirm his faith in the direction of the team, but Broussard wrote that “sources say he is fully expected to present New Orleans with a list of teams he would like to be traded to.”
Paul, 25, was limited to only 45 games last seasons, due in large part to recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery meant to repair a torn meniscus suffered in late January. The two prior seasons, however, saw Paul blossom into one of the league’s best players, as he averaged better than 21 points and 11 assists in each campaign.
