Sportsfrog.com

…being affected by the economic downturn? Recall that the New Orleans Hornets attempted to basically give away an extremely valuable piece of their puzzle at the trade deadline when they tried to give Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma City for a handful of magic beans. That fell through because the Thunder decided after a physical they were uncomfortable with Chandler’s back. But New Orleans’ desire to significantly cut payroll has gotten the Mavericks thinking. And the thinking, per the Dallas Morning News, goes a little something like this:

Picture Chris Paul in a Mavericks uniform. That might make it easier for MFFLs to watch this weekend’s home-and-home series with New Orleans if Paul dominates Dallas, as he does most times the Hornets and Mavs meet. But it’s also a realistic scenario for next season.

The thought has apparently crossed Mark Cuban’s mind. Rumor has it the Mavs brass let the powers that be in the Big Easy know before the trade deadline that they’d take the Hornets’ two worst contracts off their hands in a package with Paul. I’d wager the value of Paul’s four-year, max contract extension that kicks in next season that the Mavericks will put on the full-court press with that proposal this summer. Acquiring Paul, a perennial MVP candidate who hasn’t even hit his prime yet, and a couple of his overpaid pals would be a no-brainer basketball deal for the Mavs. For the Hornets, such a deal would make sense only because of the dollars.

I will say this, if something were to go down where Chris Paul and two shit-tacular contracts like those that Peja and Tyson Chandler have are sent to Dallas for only expiring contracts, the NBA will have become a pure joke. And should immediately fold about ten franchises in an effort to fix its financial house. But I sure don’t blame the ever bright Mark Cuban for trying to exploit an advantage in this turmoil.