Hornets say Chris Paul did not ask for trade
This story was posted by Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times Picayune:
New Orleans General Manager Dell Demps said Monday that Chris Paul did not ask the team to trade him on Monday and Demps said he felt sure Paul will be playing for the Hornets next season.
“This morning Chris Paul and his agent Leon Rose and his brother C.J. Paul met with (owner) Hugh Weber and (coach) Monty Williams. We met about 10 a.m, met for hour and half. It was a very productive meeting. I was encouraged. First time I met Chris good opportunity to open lines of commnication. Chris has good points. He’s a smart, intelligent person. I was excited about meeting.”
The Hornets read a statement from Paul indicating he was pleased with what he heard from the Hornets brain trust. ”The meeting went well,” Paul’s statement went. “It w as great to get an opportunity to sit down with Coach Williams, President Weber and new general manager Dell Demps. I expressed my desire to win and I was impressed with the direction they want to take the team.”
“He did not request a trade,” Demps told a media gathering. “It was energetic, open, honest. He wants to win. That’s what we want to do as well. He seemed, in my opinion, to be excited and ready to play.”
Demps said he didn’t think Paul’s apparent unhappiness, expressed through multiple channels prior to the meeting, would affect his play this season.
”It was a productive meeting,” said Demps, who added the Hornets would be putting together a fuller plan on how to continue throught the free-agency process, despite the team’s noted desire to avoid paying a luxury tax.
“I think there’s always ways to be creative,” Demps said. “I’m an optimist. We’ll sit down, evaluate the roster, look at all the pieces and move forward.”