Otis Smith doesn't necessarily expect a blockbuster deal to happen this summer.

"I really do like our team, and I think our team has a chance to win," Smith said. "I don't think we need to revamp the system because it's broken because it's not broken. We got beat by a pretty hard team in Boston and we didn't play particularly well."

Smith shot down reports that the Magic had discussed a possible deal with the Chicago Bulls that would have sent small forward Luol Deng to Orlando for backup center Marcin Gortat and small forward Mickael Pietrus.

"I have had no conversations with the Bulls at any point in time during this draft," Smith said. "Actually, they're probably one of three teams I did not talk to during the draft process."

Smith also denied having talks with the Hornets in regards to Chris Paul.

Hornets guard Darren Collison knows that the team is going to be active on the trade market, which makes his future in New Orleans uncertain.

"I don't know if I'm going to be a Hornet," Collison said Thursday night. "I like it here, but things don't work out that way. This is a business, and I'm starting to understand it."

Collison admitted that he thought he was traded to the Pacers last week when a reporter left him a voicemail seeking comment about trade rumors.

"I'm not going to lie, it's a little distracting," Collison said. "After a good year, you expect good things to happen. It is what it is, and we have a lot of different issues on the team that we want to fix. I'm certain management is going to fix that. All I can do is focus on myself and whatever happens, happens."

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that most insiders believe that the Portland Trail Blazers have been "merciless" in trying to lean on Chris Paul to force his way out of New Orleans.

The report states that Maverick Carter and William Wesley, two of LeBron James' closest advisors, are also working hard to elbow their way into influence over Paul.

"The NBA lets LeBron's friends come and go as they please in multiple team matters that don't involve them," writes Wojnarowski, "and they're never held accountable for whatever complications they create."

Wojnarowski writes that even though James' representatives disputed Jalen Rose's announcement that James has all but decided to leave Cleveland, that is precisely the agenda that Wesley is pushing privately.

Wesley and Rose apparently have a close relationship dating back a number of years.

The Hornets are strapped for cash and could trade out of the lottery before it's all said and done on Thursday night.

New Orleans currently has the 11th overall pick, but league sources told Yahoo! Sports that they could trade down.

The Hornets could also make a team looking to move up take on either James Posey or Julian Wright.

Should they keep the pick, New Orleans is said to like Ekpe Udoh, Xavier Henry and Luke Babbitt.

Many people around the NBA and those close to Chris Paul believe the Hornets are now open to trading him.

Paul is open to playing in New York or with the Nets, according to sources. Paul was furious when his name was mentioned in Memphis trade rumors.

The Blazers have long been one of Paul's most adamant pursuers and have 'bordered on tampering' with the point guard, according to Wojnarowski's report.

William Wesley and Maverick Carter have been involved in Paul's affairs as well and the former has attempted to shop Paul to other teams.

George Shinn issued a statement on Wednesday that did not include an assurance that Paul won't be traded.

GM Jeff Bower isn't shopping Paul, but he isn't rejecting proposals flatly as he was a few months ago.

With trade rumors swirling, Hornets point guard Chris Paul said Wednesday that he's open to a trade if the team isn't committed to winning a title.

"My first choice is to be in New Orleans," Paul told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard. "I just want to make sure we're committed to winning. If we're not committed to winning and trying to get better so we can contend with the Lakers, the Celtics and all these other top teams, then I'm open to being traded."

Reports that the other teams were calling the Hornets about Paul surfaced earlier this week.

New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower and new coach Monty Williams have downplayed speculation.

"I'm fine with staying in New Orleans, but I want to make sure we're committed to winning," said Paul. "I don't want to rebuild. I want to win now. It's nothing personal against the city. I love that city. But my biggest thing is winning."

New Hornets coach Monty Williams doesn't want the team to trade All-Star point guard Chris Paul.

Trade rumors have intensified as they often do around the annual NBA Draft, but Williams expects New Orleans to turn down offers for Paul.

"Chris was the main thing that excited me about this job," Williams said Tuesday. "So many people are begging for a point guard. You're talking about the best one in the game. I couldn't envision being here without Chris."

The Hornets have the 11th pick in Thursday night's draft, but would likely move up if they decided to deal Paul.

The Magic are one of the teams that have inquired about the availability of Chris Paul, according to a league source.

The Hornets  are unlikely to move Paul, who has two seasons left on his deal for a combined total of $31.3 million with a player option for the 2012-13 campaign worth $17.7 million.

The Grizzlies have inquired about Hornets point guard Chris Paul, but owner Michael Heisley strongly denies that O.J. Mayo was ever offered.

"Unequivocally, O.J. Mayo was not part of any discussions about a trade for Chris Paul," Heisley told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "That is not true. Where do these people get this stuff?"

Yahoo! Sports reported on Monday that "The Memphis Grizzlies offered O.J. Mayo as part of a package for Chris Paul recently, but talks went nowhere."

Heisley acknowledged that he approached New Orleans about Paul's availability but insisted "Mayo was not part of the package that I talked to them about."

Rumors have begun to surface that teams are inquiring about Hornets point guard Chris Paul ahead of this Thursday's NBA Draft and the start of free agency next week.

Lost in all that has been Paul's slow recovery from a number of injuries, which keep him out of 37 games this past season.

"I'm still getting there. I'm still doing rehab and stuff like that so I can get to 125 percent," Paul said Monday. "I'm excited about getting healthy. It's like I'm starting over almost."

Paul suffered a sprained left ankle in November, then underwent surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He then missed the final four games of the season with a torn ligament in his right middle finger.

"It was really tough. Really tough dealing with the injuries, not making the playoffs," Paul said. "This has definitely been the longest stretch of my career, easily."