Chris Paul hasn’t asked for a trade, yet
Chris Paul hasn’t asked to be traded from the New Orleans Hornets according to general manager Dell Demps.
Paul met with new head coach Monty Williams, Demps and other team officials on Monday to discuss the team’s direction and to just have a face-to-face with the new management and Demps said he was encouraged by the meeting.
"It was a very productive meeting. I was encouraged. It was the first time I met Chris. It was a good opportunity for us to open the lines of communication. Chris had some very good points. ... He was energetic. He was open. He was honest. He showed that he wants to win, and that's what we want to do as well,” Demps said.
Paul has two years remaining on his contract and reports earlier in the week suggested the point guard was going to hand the Hornets a list of teams he wants to get traded to. Paul didn’t speak to the media after the meeting but did release a statement about the meeting.
"The meeting went well. It was great to get an opportunity to sit down with coach Williams, [team] president [Hugh] Weber and our new general manager, Dell Demps.
"I expressed my desire to win and I like what they said about the direction that they want to take the team. I have been a Hornet my entire career and I hope to represent the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana for many years to come,” Paul said.
Paul was reportedly worried about the team’s commitment to win and with the franchise close to the luxury tax threshold there is a reluctance to pay the tax while the sale of the franchise is still pending. But Demps is confident they can still compete.
"There's always ways to be creative.
"I'm an optimist. I think that we'll sit down and evaluate the roster and look at all our pieces and move forward and do what's in the best interests of the organization,” the GM said.
Tags: