CP3 and Pau Stay Put

Let's recap.  Chris Paul was leaving.  The Lakers were going to have a point guard for the first time since who knows when, the Rockets finally got a good center since healthy Yao, and the Hornets were clearing out a guard that didn't want to be there.  Sounds like a win-win-win.

Then the owners started whining about the Hornets trading away a star player to a big market star team.  Stop it. Just stop it.  That trade was phenomenal for the Hornets.  Let's assign some quick trade grades

Los Angeles Lakers           Grade: B-

The Lakers have continued to be competitive year after year for one reason.  Size.  When they can consistently roll out Bynum, Gasol, and Odom they can win every night.  That front court is is strong, big and skilled.  Take out Gasol and Odom, that leaves you with one good knee in Andrew Bynum.  However, the one thing really holding the Lakers back has been the point guard play.  Every team with a quick point guard has wreaked havoc on their team.  And the PG spot has been an offensive (both in the quality of play and on that end of the court) bust.  Chris Paul is a game changer for sure.  Kobe and Paul backcourt is incredible.  But Paul, Bryant, World Peace, Bynum, and ....

Houston Rockets          Grade: C

Houston fills the biggest need, a center.  Pau obviously solves a big problem for the Rockets who have not had a legitimate center (Chuck Hayes, no offense, the Zone Press loves you) since the one time Yao was ever healthy.  The trade also helps alleviate the backlog at power forward with Luis Scola, Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson, and first round pick Marcus Morris.  That is an army of power forwards.  It is time to let Patterson have more minutes, but also losing Kevin Martin (underrated) and Gragic (appropriately rated) puts this trade at the right level.  If that were the trade, I would give it a B.  That is a good move, and I would continue to subscribe to Daryl Morey Disciples of Latter Day Power Forwards.  It is the last piece that bugs me.  The Rockets also give away a 2012 1st round pick.  This draft class may not be Lebron, Melo, Wade, Bosh good.  However, with so much talent staying in college last year, the one thing this draft will be is deep.  Trust the pick.

New Orleans Hornets          Grade: A-

How do you trade away one of the best 15 players in the game and get an A- grade?  You get more than he is worth.  Simple question, will the Hornets win a championship this year? No.  Was Chris Paul resigning? No.  Ok, good talk.  7 months of Chris Paul for Kevin Martin (underrated), Louis Scola (David West replacement), Lamar Odom (replacement for every position on the floor), Goran Dragic (back-up, maybe it is time to start but not well point guard), and 2 first round picks!  Are you telling me the Hornets get 4 starters and two first rounders in the deepest draft in 5 years for 7 months of a player with a questionable knee?

I feel bad for the Hornets.  I feel bad for Paul.  I feel bad for every player that just had their team trade them to be returned only minutes later.  There will certainly be an interesting feel around the locker room later this week.