Daily Link: Chris Paul on Nets Radar?
Last week I assumed, barring something unforeseen, that Devin Harris was the Nets PG in the 2010-11 season. Well, Sam Smith is speculating something unforeseen. He believes the Nets are going to use their #3 pick in an attempt to trade for New Orleans PG Chris Paul.
The thinking goes like this: You get Paul and can play Devin Harris at shooting guard. Harris isn’t a great three-point shooter, though he has had decent seasons at 34 percent. But he is more a scoring guard than point guard. Plus, the way the game is played these days, it is useful to have a shooting guard who can handle the ball and make plays as opposed to just spotting up. The other, perhaps more likely, possibility is a sign-and-trade with the Hawks of Harris for Joe Johnson.
When healthy, Chris Paul is arguably the best point guard in the NBA – a player who can score, shoot, pass and play defense. However, Paul is also coming off an injury ravaged season where he only played in 45 games. He’s two years from free agency as well, which could play a role in disrupting Mikhail Prokhorov’s five-year plan.
Personally, I’m more excited to hear that this kind of speculation is out there, though I’m not sure what I think of Paul in a Nets uniform as of yet. It sounds like the Nets brass are ultimately unimpressed with what’s going to be available with their draft pick. I also think there’s some reality setting in that most of the big name free agents are either going to stay where they are or avoid the Nets.
I just graduated Medical School, and am a huge Nets fan. To answer your questions on the surgery, I will tell you what I learned during my Orthopedic rotation.
The there are 2 meniscus in your knees; one on the inside, and one on the outside. It's cartilage, and like the article says allows for shock absorption so that the 2 bones don't rub up on each other.
I am assuming that Chris only removes 1 of these 2 meniscus, which mitigates the situation slightly.
The bottom line, to the best of my knowledge is, there should be no IMMEDIATE problems with Chris. Degenerative Arthritis is something that takes years to develop. Granted, in the basketball world it can happen much quicker, but not for a few years. By then, Chris will probably need Microfracture Surgery.
Microfracture Surgery is basically breaking little parts of the bones in the knee to encourage cartilage (meniscus) growth. In a few years, I'm guessing the he will begin to have problems in that knee and microfracture will be required.
Now, enough from my medical opinion. As a Nets fan I tell you this:
CP3 is the best PG in the league; easily. He won't be having problems with the knee right away, and in a couple of years if he does, his contract expires.
Therefor, I leave you with this:
The #3 pick is not worth the risk of renting a player for 2 years UNLESS you are "1 piece away" from a championship; which clearly we are not.
If New Orleans is as broke as we keep hearing, I would offer a package for Okafor and Paul. It would probably require a third team since they would have minimal interest in Harris since they already have Collison.
Perhaps the Blazers can get Harris and Humphries from the Nets, while giving up Fernandez, Bayless, Pryzbillas expiring contract, and a 2011 1st Rounder. Nets throw in Yi, the #27, a 2011 1st rounder, and $3 million in cash while taking on the contracts of Okafor and Paul.
New Orleans gets INSTANT cap relief, 2 good young players, a rookie, some cash, and 2 future draft picks. The Blazers get their point guard (they've liked Harris for a long long time), and a servicable bigman to compensate for the Pryzbilla loss.
The Nets look like this end up with Lopez, Okafor, and Favors/Cousin in the front court (and probably the 31st pick will be a big man as well).. and Paul, Lee, CDR, and Williams in the back court. 8 good, solid, young players, AND.. exactly 17 million under the cap. Just enough for Lebron.
I should have dropped out of medical school and become a GM.
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