I've said before, and my opinion has not changed, the Hornets have nothing to gain by trading Chris Paul.  He is their best chance to have a winner.  He is their best player.  I think they'd be dumb to trade him.  However, if Paul absolutely wants out, and won't play and forces the Hornets hand, then let's talk.

It is an absolute no-brainer for Orlando to try to get him.  CP3 is the best PG in basketball, terrific on both ends of the floor, and only 25 years old.  And he compliments Dwight Howard, forming a duo that could dominate the league for the next 5 years.

Can the Magic get him?  Yes, I think this is what they'd have to do though.

Vince Carter's expiring $17.3 million deal, Jameer Nelson's 3 year, $22 million deal, Marcin Gortat's 4 year, $28 million deal, and either Ryan Anderson or Daniel Orton would be dealt.  That totals about $31 million for the upcoming season.  It totals just over $70 million.

Here is what the Magic would get in return: Chris Paul's 2 year, $31 million deal with a player option, Emeka Okafor's 4 year, $52 million deal, and James Posey's 2 year, $13.5 million deal.  That totals about $33 million for the upcoming season.  It totals just over $96 million.

NEW ORLEANS PERSPECTIVE:

If the Hornets are to make the mistake, because they have to, in trading their best player, they need to at least save money and get talent back in the process.  Smaller deals don't make any sense from the New Orleans perspective with the Magic because it doesn't allow them to shed salary.  In some ways, Jameer actually may hurt the deal because they may not want to commit the time and money to him, and might rather go with Darren Collison as their starter.  Everything else probably would be appealing to the Hornets.  A young player in Anderson or Orton that could see an expanded role with the team moving forward.  Gortat starts at center next to David West.  Vince would start for a year and then they'd rid themselves of a lot of money.  And Jameer Nelson at worst is a nice 1-2 punch at point with Collison and they may move him to another team for another different piece.

ORLANDO'S PERSPECTIVE:

The Magic would have to be willing to take the bad contracts back.  That is the negative, but for a team spending so much money already, it seems to be a gamble you must take to secure one of the best players in the World.  And as far as it affects the team, this is better than any scenario that would have brought the Magic Bosh, Boozer, or Amare honestly.  Why?  Because you actually get a big back in the deal!  The Magic would actually improve their roster up front in addition to landing CP3.  The starting lineup would likely feature Paul, JJ, Q, Lewis, and Dwight.  You'd have Duhon, MP, Posey, Bass, and Okafor off the bench.  That...is...impressive.  If you wanted to go big, you could just start Rashard at the small forward and Okafor at the power forward.  Q, Posey, and MP are interchangeable at the 2 and 3.  JJ could also come off the bench.  Basically, it would be a complete team and one certainly capable of winning the East and a NBA title this year, and beyond. 

Will it happen?

It's up to the Hornets.  They can ignore the trade request, or they can shop him around and send him wherever they want.  He doesn't have a no-trade clause or anything like that, so the Hornets will take back the best possible package. 

Portland could offer Marcus Camby, Joel Przybilla, Andre Miller, Jerryd Bayless, and Nicholas Batum for CP3 and Okafor. 

Dallas could offer Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler, Roddy Beaubois, and DeShawn Stevenson for CP3, Okafor, and Posey. 

New York.  Well, they don't have the assets to land anything more than CP3, which makes no sense for the Hornets.

There could be other teams that jump in, but going off CP3's list, that is what you got.  What is the best deal?  I'd rank them Orlando, Portland, Dallas.  The Magic get a slight edge because they can take back Posey's contract and offer a young big in Gortat. 

Soooooo, will it happen?

I hope it doesn't for the Hornet's sake, but if it must, then it probably will.  It could be another team, one Chris Paul hasn't come up with yet, like San Antonio or Houston or somewhere else.  But, until something happens, just keep hoping Magic fans.  A title could be on the line.