Chris Paul is finally in L.A. But it’s not quite what you may have originally visioned. Chris Paul is a Clipper.
Instead of wearing purple and gold and being teammates with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol (for now), it now looks like Paul will be throwing lobs to the human highlight machine, a Mr. Blake Griffin.
The Hornets will receive guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ unprotected first-round pick.
Paul also is agreeinge to remain under contract through 2013 which gives the Clippers two seasons to convince CP3 to remain in L.A. for the long-term. It also dings the 2012 free agent class plenty; Paul would have been No. 2 on that list behind Dwight Howard and ahead of Deron Williams.
The Clippers should immediately burst into the West playoff picture, and no one has ever complained about playing with Chauncey Billups or Blake Griffin. The Clippers could have the makings of a dynasty. At least the franchise knows it will have at least two years to suss that out.
On the surface it looks like the Hornets may have gotten the better deal though by being able to convince the Clips to include Gordon in the package which at first they had declined to do so. And then they also have Minny’s unprotected 1st round pick next year which could very well be a top-5 pick in an unusually deep draft. When overturning the trade to the Lakers, it now looks like David Stern maybe knew what he was doing all along because the Hornets definitely has brought in a bigger haul by going with the Clips.
The NBA season starts in 11 days on Christmas, but it looks like Chris just received his Christmas present early by being able to finally leave New Orleans.
