Rarely do trades get graded or dissected years after they happen. Which makes some sense, interest in news topics gradually declines almost immediately after the news is announced. This is why instant reactions and grades are so prevalent immediately following the news break.
The only problem is, trades develop over many years. They are not transactions that happen in an instant. They have the ability to affect a franchise, positively or negatively, for a long time.
With the Chris Paul trade, the first one, being such a cornerstone moment in NBA history and Paul no longer being on the team he was traded to, it’s worth revisiting and seeing what became of all the pieces the Hornets received.
The Trade: The New Orleans Hornets trade Chris Paul and two second round picks to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Minnesota’s unprotected 2012 first round pick.
Minnesota’s unprotected 2012 first round pick
The Pelicans used this pick, which became 10th overall, to draft Austin Rivers. Rivers was extremely disappointing in his two and a half years with NOLA. Averaging just 6.9 points per game, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 rebounds while shooting a paltry 39% from the field.
With his play being devastatingly sub par, the Pelicans traded him in a three-team deal. The Pelicans received Quincy Pondexter and a 2015 2nd round draft pick from the Memphis Grizzlies.
New Orleans eventually used that draft pick to snag Branden Dawson.
Dawson played just six games before being traded to the Clippers for cash considerations, a reported $600,000.
Pondexter played just 45 games for the Pels and, despite being stellar, was ravaged by the injury and hasn’t played since 2015.
The Pelicans decided to trade him this off-season and got the draft rights to Ater Majok. A 30-year old overseas player who most recently played for Homenetmen Beirut of the Lebanese Basketball League.
Eric Gordon
Gordon was the major star the Pel-ur-Hornets thought they were receiving. Unfortunately, he battled injuries much of his time with the team and never reached his full potential. He played just 221 regular season games in a possible 410.
He did, however, play a majority of the 2014-15 season and shot an incredible 44.8% from three-point range on 5.2 attempts per game. He was also healthy during those playoff games against the Warriors that were a lot of fun despite getting swept.
He again got injured the following year, forcing the Pels to give up on him and let him enter free agency where he signed with the Rockets, had the best season of his career, and won the sixth man of the year award.
Chris Kaman
Kaman played decently well but only stayed with the Pelicans for a total of 47 games. He then became a free agent where he was signed by the Dallas Mavericks
Al-Farouq Aminu
Playing three seasons with New Orleans, Aminu was the only player in this trade not to be a total disaster. He averaged 6.9 points and 6.3 assists per game on 45.7% shooting.
He also played some pretty good defense. Despite this serviceable play from a young player, the Pelicans allowed him to walk in free agency, getting nothing in return.
Current Assets From Chris Paul Trade
| Team | Current Assets |
| Pelicans/Hornets | $600,000 |
| Draft rights to Ater Majok |
Who knows what became of that $600,000 or if Ater Majok will ever play a game for the Pelicans. In 2017, these are the only pieces of that Chris Paul trade that remain in the organization.
Next: Throwback Week: Our favorite New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets teams
After the Clippers traded Paul this off-season for a slew of above average assets and having got years of contention, they may have just been on the better end of the deal.