Hornets’ Chris Paul requests a trade

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS

Chris Paul has requested to be traded and the New Orleans Hornets have scheduled a meeting with the guard on Monday, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Paul will sit down with new coach Monty Williams, new general manager Dell Demps and team president Hugh Weber in New Orleans.

Paul, through his representatives, has told the Hornets he would prefer to be dealt to one of only a handful of teams, including the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic.

Paul, 25, cannot opt out of his contract for two years. However, he said at a recent charity golf tournament that he will be unhappy playing for the Hornets if they fail to demonstrate a commitment to winning immediately.

The only free-agency move the Hornets have made this offseason so far is resigning reserve center Aaron Gray.

The Hornets also have made it clear they have no intention of trading Paul.

Weber said earlier this month, while attending a community service event with Paul, that there was “no question” Paul would be in a Hornets uniform when next season opened. As recently as Tuesday, Weber also said that an exchange of text messages gave him the impression that Paul approved of the recent hirings of Williams and Demps.

moves

The Bulls finalized a sign-and-trade deal with the Warriors for backup guard C.J. Watson. The Warriors will get a 2011 second-round pick in the deal, which was agreed to earlier this week. … The Spurs signed guard Gary Neal to a contract. … Sam Presti agreed to a multiyear contract extension to remain the general manager of the Thunder. … The Pacers signed second-round draft pick Lance Stephenson to a multiyear contract.