With losing Gasol and Odom, they'd only have Bynum for a big man up front, and they couldn't get Howard in a sign-and-trade either unless Orlando's GM did serious drugs before the negotiations.

How, exactly, are they going to make it through the West, let alone to the Finals? Short answer, they won't, and even if they had another deal in place (Marc Gasol, perhaps), they probably still wouldn't have the depth they need in the big positions.

Odom still has a pretty good amount of talent, and you are definitely selling Scola short. I highly doubt any better deal is going to come for the Hornets for Paul before July 1st. And even if it did, would any GM be able to negotiate in good faith with the Hornets knowing that the deal could be yanked on a whim? Answer: doubtful.

Same reason that people took, and still take shots at Lebron for just wanting to get as far away from that A-hole as possible... Ignorance...

Hey, Lebron to Miami Haters, tell me how my ### tastes?

Was there ever any doubt?

Dude what the hell are you talking about???!!! Martin and Scola are SOLID players in this league that would start in 85% of the teams in the league. They are not bench players. This was a GREAT deal for the Hornets. They stood to gain the most from this. In 66 games, CP3 is gonna walk, and the Hornets aren't gonna get diddly squat... And when that happens, these won't be the droids they're looking for in New Orleans...

yep i agree scola and martain are real solid. both can score the ball run the floor and on top of that they would have got odom to. odom is a very good player i hate to see him get traded alot.

Actually, I hate LeBron for the Decision and, more importantly, not letting the fans at least know that he was not returning before crushing their souls on national TV.

All he had to say is, "Look, Cleveland, I love you fans, but I can't win a championship here, so I'm leaving. Stay tuned to see where I WILL go!" and he would have saved himself about 95% of the grief he got.

But that's last season. This season... the Heat are skeery. I would think they are the heavy favorites right now. They have young legs, a very solid core, added support (Battier is HUGE for them), and with a strike-compressed season, that gives them a big edge.

I think the big variable will be how the compressed schedule and game spree will affect the older and injury prone teams. On the other hand, they also have a shorter season. I don't know. The heat better compete for the next 8 years after they opened their big mouths. Not one, not two, not three...

Heh, you get the picture.

I'm curious if the CP3 deal doesn't get "reworked" (aka add a 2nd round draft pick or something to it) and it get approved. They can't just send CP3 anywhere as since it's his last year he has the right to veto any trade where he won't sign an extension.

The league has been back for a little over 24 hours and we've already had tons of excitement and things to talk about.

The Lakers even with CP3 aren't winning this year. They'll likely make the playoffs, but I would guess they are looking to get CP3 now and then hopefully add Howard in the off season. Now THAT would be scary.

Who'd have the better Big 3 then...LA or Miami?

The Howard Kobe Paul three would be better than the James Wade Bosh three.

Yes, but it isn't happening. I'm pretty sure that Orlando and/or NO will not let Howard and Paul go for nothing. Which means they will do trades. And the teams taking those trades will demand extensions as part of the trade. Right now it looks like the Clips are in the drivers' seat for Paul, which would be REALLY fun to see him teamed up with Blake.

i'd be ok with Chris Paul landing with the Clippers and Dwight landing with the Nets. much better than seeing them in a Lakers uniform!

Of course it's not happening. But if it did, that potential line up would be better than miami's big three.

I think Lebron & Dwade balance out with Kobe & CP3, it's the DHoward Bosh comparison that gets a little lob sided... And you can't help make it cause they're the 2 big guys, but who can you compare to Dwight in today's NBA and keep a straight face?

Btw, some of you guys should consider joining the NBA fantasy league in this forum.

Already there.

And wow. It really seems like the NBA wants Chris Paul to leave NO in July and get nothing back.

Yeah. The NBA, in it's fervor to keep Paul from a "big" market, is absolutely killing NO.