CP3 is open to ... wait for it ... the Clippers?!?

Can't say I blame Chris Paul. A trio of Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, and him would form a spectacular core.

The Clippers have got some fantastic assets -- such as Chris Kaman's expiring contract, stopgap PG Mo Williams, PGOTF Eric Bledsoe, prospect Al-Farouq Aminu, and Minnesota's 2012 first-round draft pick -- and also the cap room needed to take back Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. All in all, the Clippers would make for a fair trade partner.

6 months ago AK1984 27 comments 0 recs |

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That looks interesting. If I were Nola's GM, I'd as for Gordon in return though, and offer them Jack who can play some SG.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7jxr8a9

by Norsktroll on Dec 4, 2011 3:52 AM PST reply actions

If they could get Bledsoe too, that would be really attractive for Nola to re-start. But they need some guy to sell tickets.

Gordon may be that guy, even if it’s a serious downgrade from CP3.

by Norsktroll on Dec 4, 2011 3:55 AM PST up reply actions

If I was running the Los Angeles Clippers, I'd balk at including Eric Gordon.

With Chris Paul’s injury history coupled with Gordon’s emergence last season, that’d be too big of a risk.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Dec 4, 2011 3:59 AM PST up reply actions

Oh, and of course all first round picks I could get

by Norsktroll on Dec 4, 2011 3:52 AM PST reply actions

Hmm, this is my favorite non Blazer scenario for Paul yet.

by hoodieNation on Dec 4, 2011 7:39 AM PST via mobile reply actions

I guess I'm alone in thinking the Clippers' assets are seriously overrated.

Right from the top down: I don’t actually think much of Blake Griffin. Aldridge is better simply because he’s a more complete player (by far). Griffin is sort of the PF version of Vince Carter.
And Eric Gordon? A very poor man’s Ray Allen. Only short.
Who else? N’Orleans would be crazy to take Kaman, even as an expiring contract, unless they had someone else lined up to offload him on. (Remember: there can be a wider gap in salaries in trades now, so less need for make-weight players.)
Aminu seems to be an Outlaw-type player, all athlete, no Bball IQ. Bledsoe is a poor man’s Bayless – he’s not anyone’s PG, past, present or future.
Still, it might be the best offer New Orleans gets. And with only 5 players under contract, they have to get a bunch of players in return.
Chris Paul should be angling to get to Orlando, but I guess they have as few tradeable assets as New York…

by meru on Dec 4, 2011 8:59 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Don't forget the Firsts

Clips have unconditional Minn 2012 First. That should at worst be @ #14, that w/what we can assume would be a NO’s own somewhere around there, and NO get’s a decent shot at rebuilding.
Another Clip First in 2014 won’t hurt either.

Also consider NO’s is going to be sold. While a new owner would prefer having Paul,having a young roster,cap room and multiple draft picks is a nice clean roster to inherit.

by Tisbee on Dec 4, 2011 11:02 AM PST up reply actions

We're talking about Chris Paul, though.

He’s in his prime, his knees aren’t getting any younger, he probably wants to contend, NOW. I cannot imagine that a superstar free agent-to-be has any interest in unknown draft picks. Especially the Clippers, who have only Blake Griffin to show for as making smart drafting decisions, and that one was a no-brainer.

by superfly05 on Dec 5, 2011 10:19 AM PST up reply actions

Never mind

just realized you were talking about trading the picks for CP3, not that they would be an attraction to bring in CP3.

by superfly05 on Dec 5, 2011 10:21 AM PST up reply actions

Rec for this

Griffin is sort of the PF version of Vince Carter.

This is the exact sentiment I haven’t quite been able to express since seeing him over this past year.

by Montavilla Steve on Dec 4, 2011 2:00 PM PST up reply actions

strongly disagree

the only substantial similarity I see between Vinsanity and B. Griffin is that they are both incredible athletes who excel at in-game dunking.

The big knock on Vince is his petulance, lack of interest during games, “mailing it in”, etc.

Blake Griffin, on the other hand, plays extremely hard, hustles, and is known for working hard both in- and off-season.
Just last year we saw him develop a credible elbow bank-shot jumper out to about 18 feet. His passing and court vision are also very very good for his size and youth. But I guess bank shots and crisp ball movement don’t make it on sportcenter?

Look for Blake to continue to diversify his game and improve yearly. And I highly doubt we’ll ever see him tagged with any of the negative reputation markers that have come to define Vince Carter’s career.

by Saba on Dec 5, 2011 4:14 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

agree

must say I’m very surprised at some of the negativity toward Blake around these parts. The guy has incredible numbers (he’s both efficient and prolific passing, scoring and rebounding), plays really hard and is fun to watch. If there’s a knock on him it’s that his arms are a little on the short side to play great defense. But he definitely plays hard, works hard and is a supremely effective player at least on offense and on the glass. At age 20.

i keep dancing on my own.

by atomiccafe on Dec 5, 2011 7:07 PM PST up reply actions

As a rookie, Blake Griffin surprised the hell out of me.

Coming out of Oklahoma, I thought Griffin was a carbon copy of Carlos Boozer.

Man, did I undersell Griffin. Last season, Griffin looked like the next “Mailman.” Yep, Karl Malone.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Dec 6, 2011 3:27 AM PST up reply actions

I don't think I've ever heard you use such strong language, unless it was to criticize Nate's SOS defense

Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!

by HailOden! on Dec 6, 2011 11:27 AM PST up reply actions

This trade would never happen

and as a non-fan of OKC, I’m glad.
But it’s actually fair to both sides. Westbrook could finally be the biggest fish in his pond, and the fact that he’s not really a PG and he doesn’t get Durant the ball when it counts wouldn’t matter. Meanwhile, Durant would probably have the highest scoring average in over a decade and OKC would be instant contenders. Plus it gives New Orleans enough players, where before they only had five, so they don’t need to splurge in a weak FA market. OKC can fill up on bandwagon-jumping vets.
(This would also allow James Harden a much bigger scoring role, which he deserves. He’s certainly showed in about a million charity games that he can score with the best of them.)

by meru on Dec 4, 2011 9:06 AM PST reply actions

Yeah that is a fairly balanced trade.

The problem with it is that NO needs to make the trade while OKC is in no way desperate to make a move.

I think that for OKC to make a move they have to be getting a somewhat lopsided trade.

by vullkem116 on Dec 4, 2011 9:16 AM PST up reply actions

I'm one of the few folks in the world who believes this, but I still strongly feel that OKC's championship ...

aspirations rests on the shoulders of Russell Westbrook and not Kevin Durant. If the Thunder ever win it all, Westbrook will be the one who pushed them over the top.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Dec 4, 2011 9:16 AM PST up reply actions

There are some rumors that they entertained trading Westbrook for Rondo

There might be cracks in the chemistry with Durant. At any rate, I don’t expect Scottie Brooks to still be the coach once OKC wins a championship.

by Norsktroll on Dec 4, 2011 9:19 AM PST up reply actions

Chemistry problems?

Rondo is the perfect solution then.

by Nick Van Excellent on Dec 4, 2011 3:07 PM PST up reply actions

Regarding Scott Brooks being on thin ice, OKC is the one place I could see coaxing Jerry Sloan ...

out of retirement. A small-market franchise with a budding roster and insular management would be perfect for Sloan, even if only for a few years at most.

A return of Sloan isn’t happening, however, nor should it. More likely, GM Sam Presti would replace a canned Brooks with someone like the Spurs long-time lead assistant, Mike Budenholzer, who’d fit in seamlessly.

Above all else, though, we agree that Brooks is in over his head as coach of the Thunder. Dude can’t hack it.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Dec 5, 2011 12:58 PM PST up reply actions

I also think Westbrook is the key there.

And there are signs he’s not entirely a happy camper.

by Timmay! on Dec 4, 2011 9:20 AM PST up reply actions

Here were my thoughts on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook during last season's WCF.

1. Who stopped Kevin Durant? Answer: Dallas’ defense.

2. Who stopped Russell Westbrook? Answer: Russell Westbrook stopped Russell Westbrook.

Once Westbrook gains consistency his jumper, improves his defense, and gets paired with another shot creator in the backcourt, he’ll be golden. Too bad that Westbrook can’t be moved to the starting 2 and have Thabo Sefolosha become the backup 3. Would need a starting point guard, though, and I bet Miami would match any contract that OKC offered restricted free agent Mario Chalmers.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Dec 4, 2011 9:40 AM PST up reply actions

At the draft, I thought Harden would be out of the league by the end of his rookie contract.

I was obviously totally wrong. If OKC is going to win a title as currently constructed, he needs to be their MVP.
He can run the pnr, he can create his own shot. Increase his midrange and rim productivity, and he is the key.

dinasour type of guys choir boys

by mittsabishy on Dec 4, 2011 9:54 AM PST up reply actions