Though Hornets point guard Chris Paul told a reporter at the Las Vegas Summer League on Thursday he soon could be traded, Hornets president Hugh Weber and General Manager Jeff Bower said trading Paul is not an option.
"There is no chance of him getting traded," Weber said sternly. "I don't know how to say it any stronger, but there is just no deal we would contemplate for Chris. That possibility is absolutely zero. I can't speak for Chris, but I think he was talking about the nature of the business and the fact that the question was asked the way it was." With the luxury tax threshold set this upcoming season at $69.92 million and the Hornets' payroll at $78.8 million, the team is trying to avoid paying the dollar-for-dollar penalty of more than $8 million next summer. Due to its financial limitations, New Orleans is the only team in the Southwest Division yet to acquire a player through free agency or by a trade to improve its roster this offseason.
"In this league, anything can happen," Paul told Pro Basketball News. "I can be dealt. It's possible. It's possible."
Bower said from Las Vegas on Friday morning he is investigating many things in regard to free agency and possible trades, but he said trading Paul would not meet any of those objectives.
"I have not, nor will I, enter any discussions for him," Bower said. "(Trading Paul) is not going to happen. I think what Chris said just shows his selflessness, that he's not different than anyone else on the team."
Paul had meetings with Nike officials in Beaverton, Ore., on Friday and could not reached for comment. He signed a three-year contract extension that included an option for a fourth year last summer. Paul's contract is valued at $68 million when the fourth year is included. Paul is a two-time All-Star and averaged career highs in points (22.8), rebounds (5.5), steals (2.8) and minutes played (38.5) this past season.
After winning a franchise record 56 games during the 2007-08 season, the Hornets finished 49-33 before losing in the first-round of the playoffs to the Denver Nuggets in five games.
A number of teams the Hornets' expect to compete with for playoff seedings in the Western Conference this season have made significant off season moves to improve. San Antonio signed free agent forward Antonio McDyess and acquired Richard Jefferson in a trade. The Dallas Mavericks acquired swingman Shawn Marion in a trade. The Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the Orlando during the NBA Finals in June, signed free agent Ron Artest.
"There have been a lot of deals that we're working on that really make sense for us," Weber said. "But those deals are all with teams having to work out things on their end, and we work out things on our end. We've been very active behind the scenes just figuring out how we can get better. It's not going to happen over night. But I think in a few weeks people are going to have a total different perception of what this offseason looks like."
Bower declined to say what specific teams or free agents he is having discussions with, but that talks have been extensive. The Hornets are likely trying to get a sign-and-trade deal completed to obtain a backup power forward. Bower said through Hornets spokesman Harold Kaufman last week they were not actively shopping center Tyson Chandler, although he has rumored in several deals.
"We are in the middle of numerous scenarios and we continue to work through them on an hourly basis," Bower said. "They are very complex and take a lot of time for pieces and parts to come together."
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John Reid can be reached at jreid@timespicayune.com or at 504.826-3407.
