Chris Paul to Clippers! (Also, Odom to Mavericks)

[shadowgrin]

Speaking of next year- Dallas has positioned themselves to be a major player in next year's free agency bonanza by trading Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer for a 2nd round pick (lol). hello, Deron Williams

That's why Dallas is one of Dwight's preferred trade destinations. If he goes there it's a high possibility that Deron would follow.

[benji]

The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a deal in principle with the league-owned New Orleans Hornets to acquire guard Chris Paul, according to sources close to the process.

The Clippers, sources said, will send guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and Minnesota's unprotected 2012 first-round pick to the Hornets for Paul.

The Clippers will also receive two future second-round picks, according to sources.

The deal is expected to be approved by the league Wednesday night, sources said.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... paul-trade

Was hoping they could keep Gordon.

[chicagoRAW]

Thats alot to give up for cp3, I don't think CP3 puts them as title contenders and they just gave up their future....

[bowdown]

I think Clips would be fine. The only worry might be Paul's injuries. He had been troubled with them last two years. They have him for 2 full seasons. Im sure he would wanna stay in LA. Play in the staples center and wow the crowd with two athletic freak Big men catching his lobs.

They have good talent and size. Caron Butler, Griffin, D. jordan, Chauncy, Mo Williams....

loaded with shooters and big guys...if their bench can be descent I see them being very threatning

[Andrew]

Including Gordon is a little much. They seemed to have a little leverage when they balked out of talks - no small feat considering they're essentially going up against the league office in the negotiations - but they threw it away when they included Gordon.

This makes the blocking of the Lakers trade look more absurd, given that Paul is still leaving the Hornets and for a bigger market, albeit the market's number two team. I guess they've prevented one of the league's premier franchises from stockpiling superstars and it's a pretty deal for the Hornets but it's still been a messy situation to say the least.

For what it's worth, Billups apparently won't be released:

Agent Andy Miller tells Yahoo! that Clippers won't be waiving Chauncey Billups.

Even with the loss of Gordon, the Clippers aren't looking too bad and they are still coming out of the deal with Chris Paul. They should be fun to watch.

[Patr1ck]

It's possible that they were getting a future max contract off their books now instead of later.

[Nick]

Wow the hornets have done well. Kaman can lick my balls but Eric Gordon and that Timberwolves 1st round pick is good value. Not to mention Aminu is a decent prospect.

As good as Paul is, they already had a great lineup with Billups as the starting point guard. Now their lineup is all wonky.

It'll be interesting to see the Clips as a non-losing organization for once.

[Vendetta13]

now they need a sg and a center.whats up with that?

[benji]

They already matched Jordan's offer sheet.

As for two guard: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=74l7uhq

[rise]

Totally forgot Mo Williams was on the roster. The Clips have three solid PGs, they should trade Williams or Chauncey (whether you like it or not you whiny bitch) or both for bench depth or future picks.

[benji]

Again, they can't trade Billups.

[rise]

They can't trade him closer to the March trade deadline?

[benji]

They can't trade him period.

[rise]

Okay then, they should trade Williams for depth on the bench.

[Ickon]

Billups can play the two and was a combo guard in his earlier days anyways. They will probably use Mo and Foye in a trade to get back up for the front court + they still got a bit of cap that they have to use. I'm happy for the Clippers fans as this has been a long time coming. As a long time Mavs fan I still remember how hard it was to be a fan of a losing team..... Clippers a contender oh how the world is changing.

+ I just remembered they drafted that Leslie kid for the 2 guard as well. If my memory serves me right he threw a mean one on D. Cousins in college a couple years ago.

[[Q]]

Wow the hornets have done well.

Combo of Gordon, Kaman, Aminu, Min 1st rd pick still isn't better than KMart, Scola, Dragic, Odom, & NY 1st rd pick

[benji]

Depends on what you're doing.

[Patr1ck]

Billups can play the two and was a combo guard in his earlier days anyways. They will probably use Mo and Foye in a trade to get back up for the front court + they still got a bit of cap that they have to use. I'm happy for the Clippers fans as this has been a long time coming. As a long time Mavs fan I still remember how hard it was to be a fan of a losing team..... Clippers a contender oh how the world is changing.

+ I just remembered they drafted that Leslie kid for the 2 guard as well. If my memory serves me right he threw a mean one on D. Cousins in college a couple years ago.

Making cap room for Dwight Howard.

[Ickon]

Depends on what you're doing.

Yeah I agree and Odom didn't want to go there anyway and thats all they needed another player that didnt want to be there. At least now they got a Gordon to build the team around a decent centre in Kaman + prospect in Aminu and what should be a decent draft pick through Minny. I say win win situation. + Odom my favourite player is now in my favourite team.

[Nick]

Wow the hornets have done well.

Combo of Gordon, Kaman, Aminu, Min 1st rd pick still isn't better than KMart, Scola, Dragic, Odom, & NY 1st rd pick

Depends on what you're doing.

^ What he said.

The Lakers trade wasn't much use to a team that's rebuilding. Kmart, Odom and Scola would only hold them in mediocrity as they fade into shitness. Atleast with the Clippers deal, they get a 23 yr old all-star calibre shooting guard and a lottery pick (probably top 10, maybe top 5) in a strong draft. It gives them good young pieces going forward.

[benji]

And Chris Kaman's $12 million expiring contract rather than $9-18 million over two years for Odom, $25 million over two years for Martin and $39 million over four years for Scola.

[Nick]

I didn't even realise that. That's another plus for the Hornets.

It makes you think. Superstars like Paul and Melo may be forcing their way out of the smaller market teams, but the teams that drafted them certainly aren't that much worse off for it.

...unless you're cleveland. Cleveland got royally fucked over.

[Vendetta13]

i still like this trade because clippers still have trading chips and salary cap flexibility unlike when new york traded for anthony where they lost key guys like chandler and galinari.it was an all in trade for new york

hope the clippers make more moves

[[Q]]

but if in the end they're looking for longevity to sell the team & not winning games right now, how much more attractive is a team with eric gordon & harrison barnes (insert your #1 pick here) than a halfway decent team with kmart, scola, okafor & dragic? who would want to buy a team who already has one of the worst attendance rates in the league led by a relatively unknown shooting guard?

[Patr1ck]

It just clicked why this trade was made as I read an email from the Clippers asking me to buy Chris Paul gear. Money. Ticket sales and apparel revenue. Eric Gordon doesn't sell tickets or jerseys.
I wonder if Sterling actually cares about winning. If the 3 new guys play more than 60 games each, we will probably see a nice first round exit.