28Jul/1010:33 AM

The (Happily) Trapped Fan: Should Suns Trade for Chris Paul?

Suns owner Robert Sarver recently stated that the most likely scenario for the Suns to acquire a star player was through a trade, and that the organization’s plan was to build up pieces to put themselves in a position to possibly do that.

Now what star player could possibly be available in the near future? The biggest stars are staying put for the most part or have free agency coming in the next season. There is, though, one player that is said to be “available.” Chris Paul.

True, it is rumored he wants to play in New York. True also is that he recently came out and said that he wants to represent New Orleans. But, really, what was he gong to say? That he is tired of a sad and dirty city? Of course he’s going to say publicly that he wants to stay with the Hornets.

Now, New Orleans has all the leverage here. Paul has two years remaining on his current contract. He gets paid almost $15 million this coming season and more than $16 million the season that follows. The Hornets also have a young point guard in Darren Collison, who showed he can play at a high level and a margin of the price.

Going back to the Suns, why should they get involved and try to get Paul?

He’s a star. He’s an elite point guard. He would play to the strengths of an already potent scoring attack.

Since 1989, with the exception of the last part of the 2002-2003 season, the Suns have ALWAYS had an elite point guard. Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd, Sam Cassell, Stephon Marbury, and Steve Nash are the elite point guards that have brought the ball up the court for Phoenix.

The only other elite point guards that did not play for the Suns were John Stockton and Gary Payton in the previous generation. Nash, Paul, Deron Williams, Tony Parker, and Derrick Rose are the current group of the elite, and Nash is in the twilight of his career. Goran Dragic could be very good, but he is not as of yet anywhere near elite as a point guard.

It would be appropriate that the Suns look into getting Paul. They could offer Jason Richardson and the trade would work with the salaries. Additionally, Phoenix would likely have to offer a future first round draft pick, but to get a player like Paul, you go for it.

New Orleans would lose their star, but Darren Collison showed that he can run the team. Richardson would give them much needed production from the shooting guard position.

Phoenix would get their starting point guard for the next several years and would have the face of their franchise as well. It has the look of a killer deal. Plus, imagine both Nash and Paul on the court at the same time. Both can shoot and both can create—it would be a nightmare for defenses.

Now obviously I am ignoring the negative ramifications. Paul would improve the team’s defense against point guards, but Nash would be stuck guarding shooting guards or small forwards. That would be a nightmare. Furthermore, it would make an already undersized team even more undersized. It would be a team of point guards and small forwards.

What the trade would allow after this coming season would be to have Dragic start alongside Paul, and allow Nash to play the final year of his contract (and possibly his career) as a backup. The size problem and defensive issues would be resolved and you still have one of the best point guards in the game, and a Paul/Dragic backcourt could develop into one of the deadliest combinations in the league.

Will this trade happen? I really doubt it. Should it? As a Phoenix fan, this is one trade that you should be willing to sell off your soul, spouse and children for. And that isn’t an exaggeration (okay maybe a little).

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Tags: Chris Paul, Goran Dragic, Jason Richardson, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash

Jaylayd

lol this article is hilarious... when you already have a top tier point guard in steve nash, whats the point of trading for another one??? plus the suns should be in the market for big men, not more point guards... i think smart people need to start writing columns rather than dumb analysts

Jezzer fiel partosa

i like to trade earl clark only i dont like him i like chris paul and okafur to put the pheonix suns as a team

Phil

Don't try to get Paul. Though he is a star, trading J-Rich would mean Dragic at shooting guard and Nash as a back up.. Who's the back up at point guard? you can't just keep switching Nash back and forth from point to shooting guard. If you pick up someone up at the draft you still are risking a lot. Maybe throw Grant Hill at shooting guard but remember his age, he won't be playing that much longer

Whiplash

Who is Paul going to pass to?

Jamoriel1

I am a suns fan through and through and I would not be against trading for cp3 trade nash get paul a younger quicker better DEFENSIVE minded PG..who can set up teammates just as well as nash..paul is dynamic the instant face of the franchise with nash out the door sets us up to win for more than 2 years its got an eye on the future of the franchise not just the present with nash nobody owes anyone anything in sports trade nash to the knicks or raps and he'd be happy i'm sure if i'm the suns I'd do this every day of the week that ends with Y. DO IT! and lastly sacrificing 1st round picks for a STAR would not be bad at all I could live with that!

Max

3 way trade somehow, we get paul and trade nash to a contender. no way do i want to see nash playing on the bench for the final year of his suns and maybe pro career. he's too good for that. send him to dallas or miami

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About The (Happily) Trapped Fan- Jess Root

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Having been born in the Phoenix area and lived here all my life (excep for a two-year stint as a missionary in Southern Argentina, I have been passionate about Arizona sports (loving the Suns, Cardinals, D\'Backs, ASU Sun Devils, while hating the Arizona Wilcats) for as long as I was aware that there were sports in Arizona. Unfortunately, due to the fact that my wonderful parents have never been big sports fans, I was about 12 when that happened, so I started late. I am not a writer by profession, as I teach Spanish full-time at a high school and part-time for a college. I write from my perspective as a fan who, like many of you, is trapped (albeit happily) in a world of responsibility, being a husband, a father of four, a man with a career, and a man of faith. My views are formulated by watching games on TV, reading the Internet, and attending games every once in a while (aside from ASU Football, as I go to ALL their home games). It\'s a view from my La-Z-Boy (sometimes from the bleachers, but mostly from the La-Z-Boy), but it\'s still a view. I sometimes get mad, sad, frustrated, and disappointed, but even in the worst of times, I always enjoy the ride and want to look positively at what could be. After all, why bother with sports if you find no enjoyment in it? We already have enough things in life we have to do that lack in enjoyment.