Report: Clippers "close" to deal for Chris Paul
Just a few days after the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers was nixed by the NBA, will the Hornets superstar be headed to L.A.'s cross-town rival?
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Clippers are "close" to a deal with New Orleans to reel in the All-Star point guard. Two sources told the newspaper that the Clippers would give up center Chris Kaman, guard Eric Bledsoe, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the No. 1 draft pick they got from the Timberwolves in the 2012 draft.
Of course, as was the case last week, the NBA would have to approve the trade - and we all know how that can turn out.
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Still, a source told ESPN that the deal has been submitted for league approval. However, that source also says that the Clippers do not want to include Bledsoe in the deal. (Bledsoe underwent surgery on his right knee on Oct. 7. and the status of his knee remains unclear).
If the NBA signs off on the swap, it would be a major coup for the long-suffering Clippers. A Chris Paul-Blake Griffin duo could be a potent pairing for many years. The team just signed veteran Caron Butler and are still under the $58 million salary cap limit so the future looks bright for L.A.'s "other team."
In addition to the possibility of pairing Paul with Griffin, the Clippers have a talented young group in Eric Gordon, Mo Williams and DeAndre Jordan (should the tem match the $44 million offer sheet from Golden State).
Stay tuned.