Chris Paul left the New Orleans Hornets training center Wednesday afternoon without a new contract extension in place, but his agent remained optimistic the deal would be completed without much trouble – even if it took longer than anticipated.
“We felt like it went well … and we’ll get it wrapped up sometime soon,” said Lance Young, senior director of the sports management and marketing company Octagon, which represents Paul.
Young, who is based in the Washington, D.C., area, flew into New Orleans on Wednesday morning and spent the day with Paul and Hornets general manager Jeff Bower.
Paul left abruptly Wednesday afternoon without making any comment.
Young emerged from Bower’s office a couple hours later.
“We’re all on the same page, so we’ll be able to get it worked out,” Young said as he walked to his vehicle. “I don’t think we’re in any real rush to get it done.”
Young said he was unsure whether he would return to Bower’s office at the Alario Center today.
Paul is trying to decide between a four-year deal worth $68 million or a five-year extension worth $87 million, Young said.
The extension would go into effect after next season, the last season covered by the contract Paul signed as a rookie in the summer of 2005.
This past season, Paul led the NBA with averages of 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals. He was the Hornets’ second-leading scorer, averaging 21.1 points per game in helping the Hornets reach a franchise-record 56 regular season victories.
Paul’s performance and efforts to aid New Orleans’ recovery from Hurricane Katrina may have saved pro basketball in a city that was in danger of losing its pro teams after the devastating storm struck in August 2005.
Sellouts became the norm during the second half of this past season and the playoffs.
The Hornets have sold more than 5,000 new season tickets for next season while retaining about 90 percent of this past season’s season-ticket holders. The Hornets now have about 10,000 season-ticket holders, the most they’ve had since moving to New Orleans from Charlotte for the 2002-03 season.
Bower, along with coach Byron Scott and team majority owner George Shinn, have said extending Paul’s contract is a top priority.
The belief is that locking in Paul, a top playmaker who helped teammates David West and Tyson Chandler flourish, should help the Hornets entice and keep a supporting cast needed to contend for an NBA title.
Looking for immediate help heading into next season, the Hornets this past week traded away their only draft choice, Kansas forward Darrell Arthur, to the Portland Trail Blazers for $3 million as part of a strategy to sign proven free agents.
New Orleans will attempt to re-sign backup point guard Jannero Pargo, who opted out of the final year of his contract. The Hornets also have inquired about Boston Celtics forward James Posey, according to agent Mark Bartelstein, who represents Pargo, Posey and P.J. Brown.
Bartelstein said Brown, who lives in suburban New Orleans and played with Boston this past season, is enjoying his first championship and is undecided about whether he might play, coach or relax next season, when he’ll turn 39 years old.
The Hornets also have asked about Jarvis Hayes and Juan Dixon, who both played for Detroit this past season, according to their agent, Mitch Butler in Los Angeles.
“The Hornets are definitely interested in trying to enhance their bench and believe Hayes and Dixon, with their ability to shoot the ball, could provide just that,” Butler said.
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