The Hornets Chris Paul could have signed a deal worth about $80 million over 5 years. That's a huge amount of money for a 23 year old man. However Paul instead signed a 3 year deal worth that's figures to come out at about $68 million. For Paul it was all about keeping the other players around when their contracts were done.
It's rare to find such a player like Paul in todays league. Heck it's rare to find such a person in todays society that has a me first attitude.
"I'm trying to make sure those guys are here with me," Paul said Wednesday at the New Orleans Arena. "When those guys' contracts are up, I want them to sign another one to stay with us. Everyone who knows me knows that I'm not big on change. So when I find out that someone in the office has left, I want to know what's going on."
Photo by:Ted Jackson / The Times-Picayune
New Orleans Hornets Coach Byron Scott pats Chris Paul on the shoulder after praising him and his work ethic during a press conference announcing his contract extension at the New Orleans Arena.
Paul's new contract will not go into effect until the 2009-10 season, because he has one year remaining on his rookie contract that will pay him $4.5 million this season.
Under his new deal, Paul will make $15 million per season for three seasons. The contract escalates to $23 million for the fourth year if he does not opt out.
The man known to his teamates and fans as CP3 sought the advise of his two best friends in the league, LeBron James and D-Wade. Both signed 3 year deals themselves in 2006 instead of long term for more money.
"I know how important it is for him to know that he has an opportunity to win every year," Hornets Coach Byron Scott said. "If he doesn't, then obviously he wouldn't be very happy. Money is not the object -- that's not his purpose. It's to win ballgames.
"He's one of the smartest guys in this league. I'm sure he asked his agent or somebody what is David's contract, Tyson's contract and what they have left."
Paul said this was a business decision based on having options after the third year of the deal.
"After putting all that stuff together, considering my age (23) and how I felt like I am as a player, our organization, things like that, this was the best deal," Paul said. "I never thought about opting out; it was never an option to me. I couldn't imagine playing for another team other than the Hornets. That's why I'm happy it's done now.
"It's all about winning, that's why this moment is so crazy. I never think about how much I get paid and all that different stuff."
The deal was done after 6 hours of discussions with Paul's agent lance young. George Shinn the Hornets majority sees Paul having a fuure with the franchise well beyond his playing career.
"Whatever he wanted, he was going to get," Hornets owner George Shinn said Wednesday. "Really, there was no hard negotiating. This guy is the best point guard in the league. We had to do what we had to do. There's no way to calculate what you would lose if we didn't step up and pay the price."
"He could be an asset either in the front office or coaching," Shinn said. "What a sweet kid, and what a player. He could have stiffed-armed us and probably ended up anywhere he wanted to go, but he's not that kind of person."
Paul definitely reflects the attitude of most New Orleanians, a city he has grown to love and embrace. A city that has more years now to show him that same love right back.
Nicely written, and a great story about Paul. The Hornets should be among the elite in the West for several seasons, at the very least. The only thing I can gripe about here is that Wade and LeBron, when they opted for shorter term deals, knew that the CBA would expire the year after their deals ended, and with the (very likely) possibility that the money per year in contracts would decrease, they wanted one more big payday before that occured. But Paul isn't that guy, and I like his attitude, much like you do.
Paul does have the right attitude for a sports figure and even more so for a human being. As for LeBron and Wade I can't say you are right or wrong but they did give him sound advise.
gambitxxx Paul knows that over the course of his career he'll make in excess of $150m and counting from just within the NBA.
Being financially prudent at this juncture not only showed him in a great light but also set the franchise up for years to come in terms of being aggressive when it comes to keeping and pursuing players.
That's not often seen nowadays within the game. As it's become so much about the me mentality for many of the NBA's so called elite players .
Maybe he watched David Robinson and Tim Duncan both leave money on the table with the Spurs when they were offered more, and could have signed for more, and win championships.
And he has seen others demand more and then have their team deteoriate around them.
this kid has been tied for my favorite ball player since he was in high school. Him and D-Wade. CP3 is an amazing kid, and humble--he was totally robbed of the MVP this year, I don't care what anyone says, the proof is in the numbers.
gambitxxx
Spurcse
SRMgenius
It's all tied in to having a stable family background and knowing how to conduct one's self in public and private. Common sense and intelligence goes a long way not just life but also within the realms of sport also.
I think we can all agree that Paul aspires to be someone good. And at the same time wants the best for those around him including family, friends and his teammates in terms of success and lifelong goals.
SR, you can't always go by the numbers. There are a lot more variables involved than just the numbers.
Kobe and Paul play different positions, so the numbers are not comparable. And besides the numbers were not that far enough apart to use them as the deciding factor.
Paul had a great season, but the right person got the award.
Strongly disagree, while you cant directly compare their numbers you can certainly benchmark them against the numbers of past MVP seasons by players at their positions...CP3 smashed the numbers Steve Nash put up in his two MVP seasons, and Kobe's numbers pale in comparison to the numbers Jordan used to put up as a SG. Kobe's season was hardly impressive. His FG% was weak, he didnt even win the scoring title, and his team was teetering on the fringe of the playoffs until Gasol got there, while Paul had the Hornets there from wire to wire.
SRM,
#'s do not = MVP and to compare what Kobe did this season to what Jordan did in the past doesn't work. What Kobe has done throughout his career is play against a broader field of good to very good players. In Jordans case sure there were some good to very good players but not as many as the game has today.
I love CP3 but think he was just a shade behind Kobe in the MVP race. Here's the thing though. Just as we all have varying opinions on this subject so do those who voted on the MVP. I'm just happy Paul was considerd and think it's remarkable for a young player to even be considerd much more finish sec. in the vote.
That just shows me that there are some great things to come in the very near future for both CP3 and the city of New Orleans. I can live with that.
I don't even see where you can compare Paul and Bryant when Kobe is going to be 31 soon and will be signing the last contract of his career. A 3 year contract would not be in his best interest at all. Nobody is going to give a 34 year old another big contract even for 3 years so If I were Kobe I would go for a 5 year contract for all the money I could get.
In Paul's case he's so young and without a ring in 4 years from now he will be in his absolute NBA prime and if he doesn't see a ring in his future he can go to a new team and sign for all the money the cap allows plus to the team he thinks can get him a ring (assuming he doesn't already have one or more) and if he does have a ring he can go for just the money whereever he wants including staying home.
It's apples an oranges. 3 year contracts make good sense to the kids that have another decade ahead of them.
gambit--good post about CP3. I definately get the "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" feel about him, D-West, and Tyson. Which is why it's important that they stay together. I'm thinking back to the Lakers team that had Kobe, Karl Malone, et al...a team like that was phenomenal on paper, but didn't win the ring. But our trio really brings out the best in each other, and I pray that they stay together.
Nique,
WTF are you talking about and who compared Kobe and his age to Paul? I'm not following you there at all.
plutonium,
What's up mon'ami thx I appreciate that. Paul is a very humble young man and it makes you like him even more. As for the Lakers with Malone. He was on the decline and remember he got hurt in the playoffs. This team is so much younger and play well together. Scott has this team withy the right attitude and focused on one thing and that's winning a championship for themselves and New Orleans. Man wouldn't that feel good!
Glad Paul decided to stick around instead of opting out. Going into the offseason the Hornets have managed to lock up 2 keys to thier successful run last year. Byron Scott and Chris Paul are now locked in for a while. Now can we add Posey before somebody snags this kid? Chris Paul is a class act man. I would let this kid marry my daughter if I had one (Due to his character and his all around good guy image, of course the 68 Mil would help but thats not what I meant) Looks like the Bees are headed in the right direction for a while and im hyped for the upcoming season and ready to get into the arena and suck down some overpriced bloody merrys and watch some ball man! Thanx for the read and would the Hornets please cause a stir in free agency already!!
You guys brought Kobe into the conversation. I just made the leap about Kobe being a FA next season and what he should do yet I thought Paul did the right thing where he is at in his age right now.
Nique,
SRM was talking about the MVP and not contracts. How you mixed that up is beyond me.
h8t3D1,
Paul has a very likable attitude and i agree he can marry my sister (I have no children myself) or heck even my mom I'm not hating lol! Seriously though I think Paul is a rare breed amongst athletes these days. It should always be about the team and winning not about a paycheck. thx for commenting and as always you are welcome to return.
The perfect breakfast as I see it.
You’re sitting at the table and your son is on the cover of Wheaties, your mistress is on the cover of Playboy, and your wife is on the back of the milk carton.
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