Orlando Magic News & Notes: CP3 Won’t Ask For Trade, Matt Barnes

Yardbarker.com

Per John Reid of The Times Picayune says Chris Paul will not ask for a trade.

After hearing Demps’ plan for retooling the roster, Paul, a three-time All-Star, is on board with the team’s direction and will not seek to force a trade, according to sources close to him.

Although Paul has refrained from offering details about Monday’s meeting with Demps, Coach Monty Williams and team president Hugh Weber, sources said it was similar to a family sitting around a table and talking.

Demps said they plan to put the necessary pieces around Paul by coming up with creative ways to make trades. Sources said Paul is confident Demps will be able to make the necessary moves on a roster that has remained stagnant during free agency. Backup center Aaron Gray remains the Hornets’ only signee this offseason.

You can read the full story here.

Magical Hoops has some thoughts on Orlando’s roster.

Matt Barnes says he is fufiling a lifelong dream in joining Lakers and the Los Angeles fans love the “new attitude” Lakers.

“This is a lifelong dream to be a Laker,” Barnes said in his opening statement Tuesday at his introductory press conference.

That was evident. He immediately altered his Twitter page once he had accepted the two-year, $3.6-million deal. Instead of his Magic uniform, Barnes now wears Lakers’ No. 9. Acceptance among Laker fans hasn’t been as swift. Some still harbor resentment toward Barnes pretending to inbound the ball at Kobe Bryant’s face, and some wonder whether he’ll fit in with the team. That’s why Barnes immediately sent out a tweet asking for some love.

You can read that story here.

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger, a contributor on the Fansided Front Page, and co-host of CB Sports Radio from 5-7 pm week days (1420sports.com). Subscribe to his RSS feed, add him on Twitter to follow him daily. You can download the HTD app here.)