The New York Knicks are the first team on point guard Chris Paul's wish list of clubs he'd like New Orleans to trade him to, according to sources.
Orlando, where he could team with superstar center Dwight Howard, is the second team on Paul's list, which includes Dallas and then Portland, according to sources.
In the ideal scenario, Paul and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony would wind up in New York to play alongside Amare Stoudemire, forming a big three that could compete with Miami's newly formed super trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
"Those guys want to beat the three guys in Miami," a source close to the situation said.
A report Wednesday on CBSSports.com said Paul saw what James did in signing to play alongside Wade and Bosh and has designs on doing something similar.
Paul and his representatives are expected to meet with the Hornets within the next week, the sources said. If they are not presented with realistic scenarios that convince Paul that New Orleans can build a contender very quickly, he'll ask the club to begin speaking to the Knicks, Magic, Mavericks and Trail Blazers about possible trades.
Anthony has one year left on his deal with the Nuggets before he can become a free agent. The Nuggets, meanwhile, have offered Anthony a three-year, $65 million contract extension.
Anthony has until next June 30 to sign the extension, and the Nuggets have said they have no intention of trading Anthony. While most league executives believe Anthony will sign the extension, several sources close to him said he will not sign and that his ultimate desire is to play in New York.
Paul's demands come in the immediate aftermath of a Hornets overhaul within the coaching staff and front office. A little more than a month after making 38-year-old Monty Williams the youngest coach in the NBA, the Hornets hired Williams' longtime friend and former NBA teammate, 40-year-old Dell Demps, as general manager Wednesday.
Orlando, where he could team with superstar center Dwight Howard, is the second team on Paul's list, which includes Dallas and then Portland, according to sources.
In the ideal scenario, Paul and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony would wind up in New York to play alongside Amare Stoudemire, forming a big three that could compete with Miami's newly formed super trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
"Those guys want to beat the three guys in Miami," a source close to the situation said.
A report Wednesday on CBSSports.com said Paul saw what James did in signing to play alongside Wade and Bosh and has designs on doing something similar.
Paul and his representatives are expected to meet with the Hornets within the next week, the sources said. If they are not presented with realistic scenarios that convince Paul that New Orleans can build a contender very quickly, he'll ask the club to begin speaking to the Knicks, Magic, Mavericks and Trail Blazers about possible trades.
Anthony has one year left on his deal with the Nuggets before he can become a free agent. The Nuggets, meanwhile, have offered Anthony a three-year, $65 million contract extension.
Anthony has until next June 30 to sign the extension, and the Nuggets have said they have no intention of trading Anthony. While most league executives believe Anthony will sign the extension, several sources close to him said he will not sign and that his ultimate desire is to play in New York.
Paul's demands come in the immediate aftermath of a Hornets overhaul within the coaching staff and front office. A little more than a month after making 38-year-old Monty Williams the youngest coach in the NBA, the Hornets hired Williams' longtime friend and former NBA teammate, 40-year-old Dell Demps, as general manager Wednesday.
