Hornets point guard Chris Paul wants to be traded to the Knicks, Lakers or Magic before the start of the season, CBSSports.com's Ken Berger reports.

"He wants out," Berger quotes a source who has been briefed on Paul's strategy. "He wants to play with another superstar. He wants to follow LeBron (James') model of teaming up with other great players."

The source spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

Berger also reports people in Paul's camp have told NBA sources that "He's not going to start the season in New Orleans," and that people in his "inner circle" have told the Hornets of his desire to be traded. Paul reportedly is dissatisfied with the team's direction and wants it to do more to win now.

Earlier this month, Paul said at Carmelo Anthony's wedding that he'd like to form his own Big 3 in New York with Anthony and newly signed Amar'e Stoudemire.

Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/722 49/report-chris-paul-wants-out-of-new-orleans;-knicks-lakers-magic-on-his-list#ixzz0uQY9n4sw

LOL. When he becomes a FA then he can decide. Otherwise, serve the time you signed up for.

Chris Paul met with several members of the Hornets front office on Monday to discuss the state of the franchise and a possible trade.

“The meeting went well," wrote Paul in a statement. "It was great to get an opportunity to sit down with Coach Williams, President Weber and our new General Manager Dell Demps. I expressed my desire to win and I like what they said about the direction that they want to take the team. I have been a Hornet my entire career and I hope to represent the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana for many years to come.”

Despite positive statements about his future in New Orleans following Monday's meeting with the team, Chris Paul is still seeking a way out, according to a source close to the point guard.

It at first appeared as though the Hornets had completely ended the Paul saga, but Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that isn't the case.

"The telltale thing is that Chris Paul won't comment publicly other than what was released about it," said a person familiar with Paul's strategy.

"Leon Rose didn't come out and say, 'Chris is happy in New Orleans.' If he was happy, they would've said that. ... The only way they can get close to full value is to say, 'You guys can't make trade demands.' They're orchestrating this thing to likely move him."

A number of sources indicate that Paul and his new group of power brokers at Creative Artists Agency, led by Rose, continue to pull strings behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, the Hornets have been looking at the Magic, Bobcats and Nets as potential trade partners.

New Orleans appears focused on trading Paul to the Eastern Conference, while Paul wants to compete for a championship.

"Basically, he doesn't think they're good enough and he's put LeBron's people around him for a reason," the person familiar with Paul's strategy said. "And he doesn't want to wait two years and be 27 years old trying to get on a championship team. He wants to do it now."

The Hornets are standing firm on not letting Paul dictate which teams he'll like to be traded to.

Via Ken Berger/CBS Sports