"Well, that was awkward. A day after packing for Los Angeles, only to have his trade to the Lakers nixed by the NBA, New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul unexpectedly showed up for the first day of training camp Friday at the Alario Center.

Still, it might have been just a cameo.

Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said he is resuming trade discussions for his four-time All-Star and didn't rule out revisiting the Lakers and Houston in trying to consummate a deal that would get league approval.

"Yes, people are still calling, and we're calling people,'' Demps said Friday. "So we're confident we can get a deal.''

Demps, though, didn't have a timetable on when a deal will be completed. Regardless, Demps said, it's unrealistic to consider keeping Paul after the point guard rebuffed the team's offer of a five-year, $100 million extension.

"It would be real easy if Chris signed the extension,'' Demps said. "But the reality of it is, Chris didn't sign the extension. We have to do everything we can for the organization.

"I wish he stayed; I'm not going to lie. But it is what is.''

Had NBA Commissioner David Stern not blocked Thursday's deal, the Hornets would have acquired guards Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic, forward Luis Scola and a first-round draft choice from the Houston Rockets as well as Lakers forward Lamar Odom. Across the league, the deal widely was seen as favorable for the Hornets, who risk losing Paul without compensation when he's able to opt out of his contract July 1."