Celtics willing to trade for Chris Paul without extension assurance

ESPN
There is also a small handful of teams that has informed the Hornets they are prepared to trade for Paul with no assurance that they can keep him beyond this season. That list, sources say, includes the Rockets, Boston Celtics and defending champion Dallas Mavericks.

Each of those teams would be gambling that Paul would be won over by his new surroundings and either elect to play out the final season of his current contract (valued at $17.8 million in 2012-13) or opt out of his contract on July 1, 2012, and sign a new deal. Paul's 2011-12 salary is listed at $16.4 million.

Boston would appear to have the most to offer in such a scenario if the Celtics are willing to include point guard Rajon Rondo, but sources say that the Hornets are convinced that they can receive more from any of the so-called gambling teams than from the Knicks, who are widely regarded as Paul's No. 1 preferred destination.
Everyone is after Chris Paul including the Celtics. Anyone that thinks just because Danny Ainge said he loves Rajon Rondo and he doesn't see the Celtics trading him, that Rondo is safe in Boston is not paying attention to Ainge's history. Ainge always says that. Then he trades the guy if he gets an offer he likes.


There is a split amongst Celtics fans on whether they'd trade Rondo for Paul. Most are against it, but there's a strong number that are for it. I don't blame either side for their opinions as both are great players. If you asked Celtics fans back in let's say 1988 if they'd trade Kevin McHale for let's say Scottie Pippen, I'm sure there would be equal dissension. My reason for being against the this trade is I believe Rondo at 11 million a year plus whatever you can get with 9 million a year is greater than Chris Paul for 20 million a year, especially considering Paul's knees.

We've seen in recent years how star players like T-Mac and Jermaine O'Neal have ceased being star players at relatively young ages due to wear and tear on their knees. Maybe that won't happen to Chris Paul, but maybe it will. Now when you add in the possibility that the Celtics could trade for Chris Paul and he'd be gone in July, I think it's a no brainer to pass on him. Danny thinks otherwise I guess.

Danny either must feel that he can convince Chris Paul to re-up with Boston next Summer or Danny really wants Rondo gone. Now there is another wrinkle to this. Not only might the Celtics be trading Rondo (at $11 mil per) for Chris Paul (at $20 mil per), but the Celtics might have to kick in even more assets, whether that's draft picks or players. This makes the trade even more lopsided in my opinion. Again Chris Paul is arguably the all around top point guard in the league right now, so I can't blame anyone that wants him. I just feel the cost is too high.

Despite what you might hear from Ainge, don't expect this rumor to die until Paul signs his next contract.