Dwight Howard, Chris Paul Interested In Clippers?

[thanumba2clippersfan]

We have plenty of assets for a trade. I still don't know why no one mentions Mo Williams. If we get Paul we don't need Mo. Kaman is also a good trade asset along with the Twolves pick and Bledsoe and Aminu. I don't like the idea of giving up Griffin, Gordon, or Jordan. That should be our core and we build around them. I will be disappointed if we give up Gordon and/or Jordan to get CP3. I'm more willing to part with Jordan than Gordon to get Paul. I just hope we don't screw this up.

I honestly think that Griffin, Gordon, and Jordan could lead us to a lot of wins in the future. Just by themselves. They are only going to get better as players.

[Ranma]

Howard, Paul to the L.A. ... Clippers?

If Howard and Paul do end up playing together next year in Los Angeles, they're going to be playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, not the Lakers.

Arash Markazi, ESPN Los Angeles

From Bill Simmons. I totally agree with him.

"0.Here's why the Clippers shouldn't give up Gordon and Minnesota's 2012 no. 1 pick for Chris Paul, especially if Paul won't promise to sign an extension. Look at that landscape. Our best four shooting guards are over 30 years old; only Wade still qualifies as being "unquestionably in his prime." I watched Gordon in person for three years — he's the no. 2 candidate to make a gigantic, Westbrook-like leap this season. (No. 1: John Wall; no. 3: James Harden.) Why trade a cheap player who has a chance to be THE BEST GUY at his position in three years AND a fantastic asset (Minnesota's pick in a strong 2012 draft) for a point guard with a sketchy knee who makes four times as much money? What am I missing? Even if Paul says, "I'll sign an extension," I wouldn't do that trade. I love Eric Gordon. Total gamer, total stud. Gordon for a promises-to-sign-an-extension Paul, straight up, is a fair deal considering New Orleans doesn't have a ton of options for him. Anything else is lunacy — especially when you factor in the part where the team with the tortured history is giving up the farm for a superstar with a possible knee problem. Sorry, I had to vent."

Preach on, Sports Guy. I'm glad to finally see some common sense displayed in the media, though admittedly this far-fetched conjecture is trumpeted by the mouthpiece that is Broussard. I've already acknowledged that the Lakers have a good--if not the best--shot at getting Dwight Howard long-term but this notion that the Lakers could somehow get both CP3 & D12 is typical Laker myopics. Gasol is the best player they're willing to give up but Bynum is the most appealing to other clubs. While Andrew Bynum is talented, he's also a scary proposition given his tendency to get injured despite his young age. Lamar Odom, is really a non-factor as he would likely not be as useful for another team than he has been for the Lakers; he's kind of like DeAndre Jordan that way since I feel DJ--being as impressionable as he is--would likely flounder were he to be separated from Griffin. Not to say that Jordan can't be developed under the right system but his likeliest destinations don't favor the odds.

Back on topic, the idea of Howard & Paul teaming up together is a longshot, but if it were to happen, the likeliest place for it to occur would be with the Clippers. We have the most attractive assets for teams to rebuild with, which is why every team is asking for us to pay more than anyone else...because we can. I'm not a fan of giving up the farm for just one of those players but I'd be hard-pressed to turn down such a proposition if it united Blake Griffin with Paul & Howard. Even still, I'm not sure that would be worth it.

[Ranma]

David Aldridge, NBA.com (12/7/11)

The Clippers are offering a package, according to sources, that includes guard Eric Bledsoe, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, center Chris Kaman and the unprotected 2012 first-round pick the Clippers currently possess from the Timberwolves. Another source was adamant Tuesday that the Clippers have not included rising star guard Eric Gordon in any package for Paul, preferring to keep Gordon and Blake Griffin together to team with Paul in their own "SuperFriends" team like the Heat.

Lakers still in hunt to work deal for Hornets' Paul


Below is a partial screenshot of a previous article that is no longer up at the site, but I wanted to highlight the inspiration for a new nickname for our possible superteam:

Justice League West

Blake Griffin = Superman
Chris Paul = Batman
Eric Gordon = Green Lantern
Caron Butler = Aquaman
DeAndre Jordan = J'onn J'onzz (Martian Manhunter)
Madelyn Burke = Wonder Woman

[Det the Threat]

Seems like Paul has us ahead of the Warriors, as he'd like to play with Griffin and Gordon.

Chris Paul would reportedly prefer the Clippers over the Warriors because of the chance of being paired with Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon.

http://basketball.realgm.com/#ixzz1fr9QzLry

We'll see how that goes...

[mudyez]

Spurs fan here.

Just wanted to say, that I'd love you getting CP3 and D12...not coz I hate the Lakers. Not coz I think your poor franchise needs to have some kind of "golden years" at least once a century. Not coz Blake deserves it.
Not coz I dont want to see Miami winning Championships.
Ok, maybe the last one.

It's just, that it would create the single most entertaining team, the league has ever seen. CP3 + the 2 best dunking big man? Thats insane! (the wings just would have to be shooters, which are not that expensive).

To do so, they have to give NO a nice package (probably focusing around Gordon) for CP3 while preserving capspace (letting DJ go or deal him to NO in the deal). Then sign D12 right away (I think he would do it, but they should get a feeling for him right now, just to make sure).

Is it clever to deal Gordon for Paul? No it isn't, as Gordon is an up and comer, which should be an All Star very soon.
Is it clever to loose DJ? No, as he is one of Blakes closest friends.

Should a team do it notheless, if it could put CP3,Blake,D12 on the some court in the same jerseys? A once in a lifetime chance. With the side effect, of preventging one or both of them going to the Lakers, Boston or NY.
Hell yeah, as aside from OKC, there shouldnt be another team, beeing able to beat them in the west for about 4 or more years.

And dont confuse all of this with the situation in Miami. What would you rather have:
2 perimeter superstars + a good insideguy
or
2 insideguys (protecting the rim) + one ballhandler?

No contest!

Good luck!

[mkwest]

Thanks mudyez

CP3 Update: Source close to process tells ESPN that NOR talks w/GSW "definitely cooling" because of GSW refusal to put Steph Curry in deal

Marc Stein

[donemilio21]

Why would CP3 stay with warriors, even if they trade for him?
Because they have David lee and they sign Chandler? Thats not a competitive team, definitely not a championship contender.
I'm pretty sure Paul will tell the team that he is being traded, he wont sign an extension.

thus, NO might be forced to deal him to Clippers without EJ being included.

[mkwest]

Sources: Hornets cool on trade offers

It has been evident since Monday that the Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers are New Orleans' preferred trade partners, but one source close to the process told ESPN.com that talks between Golden State and New Orleans have gone "dormant" because of the Warriors' refusal to make Curry part of the deal without an assurance from Paul that he will stay beyond this season as opposed to bolting as a free agent in July 12. Clippers guard Eric Gordon is the other player New Orleans covets in a Paul deal on par with Curry, but L.A. has likewise insisted all week that Gordon is a "deal breaker," as one source put it.

New Orleans, though, likes the other offers coming in even less than those proposals. Sources say that the Clippers have only pitched a package featuring Chris Kaman's expiring contract and guards Mo Williams and Eric Bledsoe, meaning that center DeAndre Jordan and Minnesota's 2012 unprotected first-round pick are off the table along with Gordon.

Chris Broussard and Marc Stein, ESPN

[Ranma]

Leave it to the Lakers to prove me and my theory wrong about their ability to acquire both CP3 & D12, still it would have been difficult to secure Dwight Howard with the remaining assets the Lakers had even if the NBA didn't void the 3-way Chris Paul trade unless someone considers Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest as fair trade for the league's premier big man.

I've been conflicted about this whole soap opera. Going from the high of having Paul possibly manning our PG spot with Griffin, Gordon, Butler, and Jordan to seeing him join forces with our arch and crosstown rivals. Part of me is taking delight that the Lakers are getting shafted by the league when most would have expected the Clippers to be targets for such tactics yet I can't help but feel a little sorry for them.

They pulled off a great trade in building arguably the best backcourt in NBA history only to have it rejected at the last second. Does anybody think Paul will be happy with whatever new team he is "forced" to join should another trade be worked out? Yeah, me neither.

As impressive as the haul New Orleans received is, it was not really a good package for a team what will be in desperate need of a rebuild. Still, the notion of a triumvirate of Bryant, Paul, and Howard plying their trade on the hardwood is exciting to think about even if it is for the Lakers. It would have been a more appealing proposition to root for this Big 3 against the one found in Miami.

I'm glad the trade was nixed but I have to acknowledge that the NBA owners may have crossed the line even as I agree with them that the trade should have been composed of different components and partners. I'm not going to lose any sleep over this but I will continue to monitor and try to enjoy how this dramedy plays out.

[donemilio21]

I have posted a trade idea on the trade board:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1142083