Hornets ship Paul to LA Clippers in four player blockbuster swap

It wasn’t a very well kept secret, Chris Paul had being traded atop his Christmas list this year.

It wasn’t exactly a gift from Santa, but the former Hornets guard got his wish this week as the team traded its all-star point guard in a four-player deal to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Heading to New Orleans in the swap are 22-year-old guard Eric Gordon, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, center Chris Kaman and an unprotected 2012 first round draft pick that will be the better selection out of either the Clippers pick or a pick they own that previously belonged to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Hornets are also shipping a pair of second round picks to Los Angeles in the exchange, which is a “big day” for the franchise, according to the team’s general manager Dell Demps.

“Today is a big day for the New Orleans Hornets,” Demps said. “It’s bittersweet because we’re saying goodbye to Chris Paul. We’d like to thank Chris and his family for everything that they’ve done for our franchise. … But on the sweet part, the future is bright. We’re bringing in some young players who will be very exciting and hard playing. Our fans will be very excited.”

The trade’s completion marks the end of a week and a half of chaos and turmoil within the NBA-owned Hornets’ franchise.

Demps and his executives reportedly had agreed to trade Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers last week for a package involving Rockets’ players Kevin Martin and Luis Scola and Lakers’ forward Lamar Odom.

But the NBA vetoed that trade, saying its property wasn’t getting enough young talent in return.

Multiple reports say the team’s efforts with the Clippers were also on thin ice in the days leading up to last Wednesday’s trade because of the NBA’s steep demands.

The Clippers had even reportedly given up on Paul, claiming former Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks guard Chauncey Billups off waivers.

The league’s steep price drew the ire of Demps, executives and fans around the league, which thought NBA Commissioner David Stern was overstepping his power controlling the terms of a trade.

Stern addressed those concerns following the deal’s completion, saying that NBA ownership of the team isn’t perfect, but it has ultimately saved the team from what he believes was impending financial doom.

He added that the original agreement upon purchasing the team has always been for Hornets’ Chairman Jac Sperling to operate the team within a budget, but that any transactions involving players would be up to either the commissioner or a commissioner-appointed employee.

“In that context, I was operating as the highest ranking executive or the owner of the New Orleans Hornets,” Stern said. “That’s the way we’ve always worked with this team on transactions, player transactions that were recommended by [Hornets President] Hugh [Weber] and by Dell and by Jac. … It was in that capacity that we’ve been functioning here. …Our sole focus was and will remain until we sell this team, hopefully in the first half of 2012 was, ‘How best to maintain the Hornets?’”

Controversy aside, the haul the Hornets lured in with the deal appears to be worthwhile.

Gordon is the brightest chip on the table, having averaged 22 points and four assists per game in 2010-11.

The former Clipper has increased his points per game average every year of his three-year career and will likely serve as the Hornets’ top scorer this coming season.

Last year, Gordon was an elite, explosive scorer from both the inside and the outside, shooting 45 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point line and 82 percent from the free throw line.

Despite the impressive stat line, Demps is quick to note that Gordon will turn just 23 on Christmas Day. His youth and room to grow are a huge source of excitement for Demps. It’s also a big reason why the team liked the Clippers’ package more than the trade presented to the team from the Lakers and Rockets.

“We’re excited to have that big-time scorer,” Demps said.

With Gordon doing the scoring and getting the most attention, Kaman will provide stability to the Hornets’ big men.

The former Central Michigan star has struggled to stay healthy in his career.

But when healthy, he has proven to be a more than serviceable threat in the paint.

Kaman averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds per game in 2009-10, the only season he’s played 76 or more games since 2005-06.

“He’s a solid veteran that will solidify the middle for us,” Demps said.

The least known of the three, Aminu is an explosive, 21-year-old forward who can give spark to the Bees.

The forward played sparingly for the Clippers last year and averaged just 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

But during his time at Wake Forest, he showcased an ability to play well above the rim.

That’s something that excites the Hornets’ front office, looking for more athleticism.

“He’s a young player that’s exciting and can make plays and will get the fans on their feet,” Demps said.

The wildcard of the trade is the 2012 First Round draft pick, which could be a lottery pick if either the Timberwolves or Clippers falter.

Whoever the Hornets select with that pick could determine whether the trade was a success or failure.

Either way, Demps believes there are bright days ahead in New Orleans.

“We’re going to continue to put a product on the floor that the city of New Orleans can be proud to call its own,” Demps said. “We’re excited.”