"You can say it has settled down now, but it was settled before that," Williams told Sporting News. "For me, it was never an issue. Chris never said anything about a trade. He never asked for a trade. He wants us to be a better team, but we all want that and Dell [Demps] and I are going to do all that we can to make it a better team. We're going to make this a better team with Chris here."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Credit rookie coach Monty Williams for getting one thing: Chris Paul is his and the New Orleans Hornets’ meal ticket.

Maybe Paul requested a trade. Maybe not. Regardless, Williams won’t throw his best player under the preverbal bus and into the media firestorm.

According to Williams, Paul doesn’t want a trade, but does want the team to improve. Translation: ownership better splurge on some high-priced talent or CP3 bolts as a free agent in 2012. 

For that to happen, George Shinn - the club’s owner and the NBA's most dysfunctional rich old guy other than the Clippers’ Donald Sterling and Knicks’ James Dolan – must finally sell the Hornets to Louisiana billionaire Gary Chouest.

Chouest loves hoops. Chouest is also filthy rich and will spend some of his considerable shipping empire on bringing a contender to The Bayou.

So Williams is right to protect Paul. Perhaps the organization eventually appeases him. However, this doesn't happen unless a change in ownership occurs.

--Oly Sandor.

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