Chris Paul Reportedly Wants Trade Out of New Orleans

Chris Paul joked at Carmelo Anthony's wedding that he, 'Melo and Amar'e Stoudemire could form a new super team to challenge LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com's report from Wednesday takes all the funny out of that toast for Hornets fans though, because the word on the street is that Paul wants to get traded before the 2010-11 season.

According to Berger's source, Paul has "put into motion an aggressive exit strategy that will accelerate in the coming weeks" with the end result being Paul joining one of the following supposedly preferred teams: the Knicks, the Magic and the Lakers.

"He wants out," said the person, who has been briefed on Paul's strategy but spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it publicly. "He wants to play with another superstar. He wants to follow LeBron's model of teaming up with other great players."

Shoals: If Chris Paul Leaves, Do We Hate Him?

The underlying logic behind Paul's desire to exit New Orleans is a combination of a) having slowly seen what was a championship caliber team in the Bayou erode around him and b) watching The Three Am-egos join up South Beach to make a run at a dynasty.

Needless to say, the outcome of any Paul trade from the Hornets to one of those teams -- all three of whom would instantly become must-watch television; the Magic and Lakers would hop the Heat for title faves -- would have long-lasting, cataclysmic ripples across the NBA.