What team if you added CP3 to, would become an instant contender?

[LnGrrrR]

If the Lakers were to get Cp3, theyd have to take back Okafors contract as well. It would be worth the risk though. Lakers would still have a starting center and theyd have ing chris paul.

I don't think it'd be half as ideal as you think. Chris Paul wants to be 1A, and maybe 1B at best. With Kobe, he's clearly a number 2. I don't know if CP3 would be willing to sacrifice that much of his game/fame to be a second/third banana.

[IronMexican]

What? Kobe is on the wrong side of 30. CP3 would take over as the best player in a year minimum. I'd think Kobe would have more problems not being the #1 guy.

[redzero]

I don't think it'd be half as ideal as you think. Chris Paul wants to be 1A, and maybe 1B at best. With Kobe, he's clearly a number 2. I don't know if CP3 would be willing to sacrifice that much of his game/fame to be a second/third banana.

Chris Paul said that he'd like to go to the Lakers last year, so I don't see that as a problem.

[LnGrrrR]

What? Kobe is on the wrong side of 30. CP3 would take over as the best player in a year minimum. I'd think Kobe would have more problems not being the #1 guy.

Kobe WOULD have more problems, because he would be viewed as the number one guy, and rightfully so. You think Chris Paul would want to give up the "best player on my team" status? Maybe, but I doubt it. That usually happens to older players who are hungry for a ring.

[LnGrrrR]

Chris Paul said that he'd like to go to the Lakers last year, so I don't see that as a problem.

Hm, I'd like to see where he said that, and in what context the hypothetical was envisioned. Who knows, maybe he'd be willing. I just don't think it'd work out as well as everyone thinks.

[Killakobe81]

Agree with Jamstone ...Atlanta. they would be one true athletic big away from being Eastern conference favorites ...

You guys overestimate Portland ...

Too much of similar talent ...with Paul they would be very good ...but defensively they would be ty still and I dont think they get close to a le UNLESS ODEN gets and stays healthy ....and becomes Dominant.

[Venti Quattro]

San Antonio

[kingmalaki]

It depends on what NO wants in return. If Shinn is truly trying to cut salary to sell the team, then I think a Rockets could put together a package and still have enough left to contend.

Paul ($15M)
Okafor (11.5M)

for

Battier ($7.4M expiring)
Jeffries ($6.9M expiring)
Anderson ($2.5M team option)
Hill ($2.7M)
Brooks ($2M)
2011 pick (lower of Hou or NY)
2012 NY pick
2012 Hou pick

That would leave the Rockets with:

Yao/Hayes
Okafor/Scola/Patterson
Ariza/Budinger
Kevin Martin/J.Taylor
CP3/Lowry

And Houston would still have the MLE to play with. Okafor makes a ton but he can actually limit Yao's minutes to keep him healthy. I think that team could contend if Yao is healthy.

[sefant77]

the local house, one little more...