Appropriately, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard finished their seasons an hour apart Thursday night, both of their teams exiting in the first round of the playoffs. That immediately kicked off speculation on whether the Hornets and Magic will attempt to trade their point guard and center, respectively, next season before they reach free agency in 2012.
The Knicks better hope not.
After dealing most of their assets in the Carmelo Anthony package in February, the Knicks likely will be ill-equipped to muster up a suitable package to land Paul or Howard via trade. Like they wished with Anthony, the Knicks must hope Paul and Howard reach 2012 free agency, when they will have plenty of cap space.
Team president Donnie Walsh’s hopes of Anthony staying the course did not materialize. Anthony decided he did not want to test 2011 free agency because of fears of the new and yet-to-be determined collective bargaining agreement. The Knicks would have had maximum cap room this summer but were forced into the Anthony trade, costing them Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Randolph, their 2014 first-round pick and two second-round picks.
Left to wheel and deal next season is Chauncey Billups’ $14.2 million expiring contract, rookie guard Landry Fields and whomever the Knicks select with the 17th pick in the upcoming draft. That’s not much, and the cupboard of additional first-round picks is bare. The Knicks are not permitted to deal their 2013 first-round pick since they no longer possess their 2012 pick (Houston property) and 2014 selection (Denver).
Paul, who last July at Anthony’s New York wedding toasted to a union with Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, sounds as if he could be willing to stick it out next season in New Orleans, despite a shaky ownership situation in which the NBA owns the team. After the Hornets were eliminated by the Lakers, Paul said the club is “definitely serious about winning” and praised the administration and coaching. He clearly is a fan of Monty Williams.
“In the past, we had GMs and coaches that didn’t communicate, so not only do they communicate, they know basketball,” said Paul, who recently suggested he would think about heading back to his native North Carolina and play for Michael Jordan’s Bobcats. But the sentiment is he would prefer New York and make good on his wedding toast.
Paul’s agency, CAA, which also represents Anthony, figures to want to steer Paul to New York and must realize the advantages of doing so as a 2012 free agent.
Howard is a different story. He has given no signals the Knicks are a preferred destination, complaining about the cold weather. During breakup day yesterday, Howard was asked if he needed to play in a major metro market to maximize his visibility. Howard’s answer did not reflect well on the Knicks’ 2012 chances.
“The biggest market of all is outside of the United States,” said Howard, referring to China and India, where he visited on promotional tours. “In today’s NBA you can get anything you want [in endorsements] and you don’t have to play in a big market.”
*
The deadline for Knicks owner James Dolan to exercise Walsh’s option for next season will pass today, but as Dolan and Walsh said all along, the date was meaningless. The two have discussed a new deal that includes a two-year extension and multiple sources said Walsh has agreed in principle to return. One person said Walsh is going at his own pace on when he wants to make a formal announcement. People in the know said Walsh still has no interest in returning to the Pacers, who may let Larry Bird go in the next 10 days.