Chris Paul Extends Hornets Contract 3-Years

Chris Paul has agreed to a 3-year contract extension with the Hornets. Paul could have agreed to a 3-, 4- or 5-year deal, but went with the less time so he can become a free agent sooner (similar to the move LeBron James made) and to ensure that the Hornets retain his running mates, Tyson Chandler and David West, before making any further commitment.

Some Hornets fans were concerned when they heard Paul had taken the 3-year option, but I see it as a smart business move for himself and for the team. The deal is worth $68 million and he's now one of the top 5 players in the league, so endorsement deals should be coming soon, so money is not the real factor. He is the face of the Hornets and wants to make sure that the team stays competitive for the long-term. This isn't a team with a ton of long-term success. With Paul, Chandler and West, they very well could be contending for the NBA title for years to come.

In 4 years (Paul still has one year left on his rookie deal before the 3-year extension), Paul will be eligible for free agency, but the Hornets would be stupid to let him even sniff other teams. The city of New Orleans and the team's fans love CP3 and everything he's meant to reviving basketball in the Big Easy. But lets not worry about the 2012 season now. We get to follow CP3's career for at least four more years and to worry about him leaving via free agency in 2013 just shows how tormented and tortured New Orleans sports fans have been in the past. Instead of focusing on the positives like a division title, fans focus on possibly losing Chris Paul four years from now.