Chris Paul Trade Sends To Hornets One Of The Most Coveted Draft Picks In Years

Read More: cp3 trade, Chris Paul (G - LAC), New Orleans Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers

In the trade package for Chris Paul, who was reportedly sent to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, the New Orleans Hornets are getting two incredible pieces. One is stud shooting guard Eric Gordon, the second coming of Mitch Richmond. The other is the unprotected 2012 first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Wolves traded the pick with Sam Cassell to the Clippers in 2005 (yes, 2005) for Marko Jaric (yes, Marko Jaric). It had been protected for a number of years, but the Wolves have been so bad that the protections finally ran out. No matter how bad Minnesota is this season, the Hornets will take their pick in the draft.

For an idea of just how bad the Wolves have been lately:

• Minnesota has more losses (190) than any other team in the NBA over the past three seasons, averaging roughly a 19-63 record each year. The second-worst team over that span, the Kings, have averaged a 22-60 record.
• Minnesota has finished with one of the six worst records in the league in each of the past four seasons, one of the four worst three times and one of the two worst in each of the past two seasons. 
• Minnesota has not drafted lower than No. 7 overall since 2005.

The 2012 draft also happens to be one of the best drafts since 2007, when Greg Oden and Kevin Durant went No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

For more on the Hornets, visit At The Hive.