Report: Chris Paul Told Clippers He'd Sign With Rockets After Rivers Talks Broke Down

[GhostRaider2013]

Bill Simmons is making up stories.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Lets not forget Simmons is essentially best friends with Morey who is probable the source of this info.

On top of this the rockets would have to find teams willing to take jeremy lin and omer asik contracts without sending back salary to them. Asik and Lin have inflated 15 million dollar cap hits on their deals if they play on any team other than the rockets (who intially signed them to offer sheets).

This is not correct according to the CBA.

The poison pill aspects of Asik's and Lin's contracts would have only taken effect if they had resigned with their original teams. As is the CBA allows Houston to average out their cap hits evenly over the duration of their contracts which means that while they will still be paid 5,5,and15 million during their contracts years their cap hits will come to about 8.3 million each of the three years and that aspect does transfer with a trade.

As for getting rid of their contracts Asik would be easy. That said Lin's would prevent a challenge but they could easily pay a team to take the contract off their hands much like they did with the very toxic Royce White if they were dead set on freeing up that cap space .

[nimit]

Paul has been phenomenal on the Clipps. That whole team has a lot of potential with Doc Rivers as their new coach.

No need to hate on CP3 for demanding a coach who knew what he was doing.

Vinny when coaching the Bulls led them to being an 8 seed. When the Bulls hired Thibs, the Bulls were the #1 seed the following year. Granted the Bulls also made some moves, having a solid coach makes a world of difference. Especially when coaching younger guys like Griffin and Jordan.

Clippers will be a contender in the West this year.

[silversurfa23]

If I was an all-star who had to deal with Vinny Del Negro as my head coach, I would demand changes too.

[SteveNizzy]

Chris Paul is overrated-- He can play in the regular season but when its playoff time he comes up small.... Dating back to his NO Hornets days when they had Tyson Chandler and finished 2nd in the West--- He's only made it out of the 1st round twice in his career.... Id take Kyrie Irving, Russ Westbrook, D Rose, D Williams, Tony Parker, Rondo, and Damion Lilliard over him

even if u are trying to troll i agree with you, a team with just chris paul n no help will never make it past the first round. clippers are gone first round this comning season again.

[Dolphin Lips]

Chris Paul is overrated-- He can play in the regular season but when its playoff time he comes up small.... Dating back to his NO Hornets days when they had Tyson Chandler and finished 2nd in the West--- He's only made it out of the 1st round twice in his career.... Id take Kyrie Irving, Russ Westbrook, D Rose, D Williams, Tony Parker, Rondo, and Damion Lilliard over him

even if u are trying to troll i agree with you, a team with just chris paul n no help will never make it past the first round. clippers are gone first round this comning season again.

Don't see how that was trolling?... I listed every PG Id take over him

[McPrezy]

He should do that anyway...He isn't gonna win anything with Blake and DeAndre, LAC sucks big time.

[15th overall]

How would you sign him for the max if he didn't want to stay on your team? And a sign and trade deal has the team he is going to in the contract. Your plan wouldn't work.

He's saying he'd trade CP3 now that he's signed.. just to screw him over for being such a needy bitch. I tend to agree.

You couldnt trade him til January, unless he agreed to a sign and trade. He has to live there for at least the next 5 years, and if he does not have confidence in management that they will actually surround him with pieces that fit him, then he should leave, right? Its not greed. What if Lebron was surrounded by a bunch of players who couldnt shoot? Teams would double him every play. If the heat were full of bums who werent good at shooting then maybe he would want to leave.

He knew what he was signing up for when he waived his no trade to get into bed with Donald Sterling. There were better fits for him out there (including playing for Doc and KG in Boston) but he wanted to play under palm trees instead.

If winnings actually a priority you don't opt to goto one of the worst franchises in all of sports. You certainly don't whine when they start doing things that they've been doing for their ENTIRE existence.

[Scottpax]

Chris Paul is overrated-- He can play in the regular season but when its playoff time he comes up small.... Dating back to his NO Hornets days when they had Tyson Chandler and finished 2nd in the West--- He's only made it out of the 1st round twice in his career.... Id take Kyrie Irving, Russ Westbrook, D Rose, D Williams, Tony Parker, Rondo, and Damion Lilliard over him

Oh yeah and BTW--- Bill Simmons and all of ESPN besides Magic suck

With your same logic, Kyrie Irving and Damion Lilliard are not as good as Chris Paul.

Westbrook plays next to Durant and has different shooting tendencies than Chris Paul. Rondo is not developed as offensively as Chris Paul and also Rondo won a championship playing next to KG, Pierce, and Ray Allen.

If you switched Tony Parker with Chris Paul, try to imagine Tony Parker carrying that team. I do not think the Clippers would have nearly the same record. Playoff impact of these two players is arguable, but Tony Parker has the luxury of playing with Popovich and Tim Duncan in his career as well as playing with Ginobli back when he was in his prime.

Deron Williams, are you talking about the Deron Williams from Utah or the Deron Williams from NJ?

And of course, Derrick Rose ... fair enough.

I don´t see how Chris Paul is overrated. He´s a great player who impacts the way teams play defense and does everything and more from the PG spot. Also, his impact in the playoffs is tremendous.

To say he is overrated is just plain trolling.

[puja21]

Chris Paul is overrated-- He can play in the regular season but when its playoff time he comes up small.... Dating back to his NO Hornets days when they had Tyson Chandler and finished 2nd in the West--- He's only made it out of the 1st round twice in his career.... Id take Kyrie Irving, Russ Westbrook, D Rose, D Williams, Tony Parker, Rondo, and Damion Lilliard over him

even if u are trying to troll i agree with you, a team with just chris paul n no help will never make it past the first round. clippers are gone first round this comning season again.

Don't see how that was trolling?... I listed every PG Id take over him

ridiculous post as usual -- who cares if the TEAM got out of the 1st round. it's just nonsense trolling to say paul comes up small in the playoffs:

his last series in NOR
-Paul played 40+ minutes every night,
-Scored 20+ points in 5/6 games
-Avg'd 22 pts, 12+ assists, ~2 steals
-Shot 55% from the field
-Shot a whopping 47% from three
-Had >10 steals in the series

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... offs::none

that's just stupid.

[Dolphin Lips]

@ScottPax... With your same logic, Kyrie Irving and Damion Lilliard are not as good as Chris Paul.

Westbrook plays next to Durant and has different shooting tendencies than Chris Paul. Rondo is not developed as offensively as Chris Paul and also Rondo won a championship playing next to KG, Pierce, and Ray Allen.

If you switched Tony Parker with Chris Paul, try to imagine Tony Parker carrying that team. I do not think the Clippers would have nearly the same record. Playoff impact of these two players is arguable, but Tony Parker has the luxury of playing with Popovich and Tim Duncan in his career as well as playing with Ginobli back when he was in his prime.

Deron Williams, are you talking about the Deron Williams from Utah or the Deron Williams from NJ?

And of course, Derrick Rose ... fair enough.

I don´t see how Chris Paul is overrated. He´s a great player who impacts the way teams play defense and does everything and more from the PG spot. Also, his impact in the playoffs is tremendous.

To say he is overrated is just plain trolling.

I never said he was overrated, I said I would rather have those PG's over him....Kyrie and Lilliard are both better than CP3, especially playing with the talent around them, and they don't bitch or make demands.. What are you talking about CP3 and Parker? CP3 lost 1st round and got outplayed by Mike Connelly Jr. and he wouldn't have taken the Spurs 1 Jesus Shuttlesworth shot away from a Championship... CP3 has more talent that D-Will, but D-Will isnt as injury prone and doesn't complain (unless he's in Jerry Sloans offense that was outdated 40 years ago)

[Dolphin Lips]

even if u are trying to troll i agree with you, a team with just chris paul n no help will never make it past the first round. clippers are gone first round this comning season again.

Don't see how that was trolling?... I listed every PG Id take over him

ridiculous post as usual -- who cares if the TEAM got out of the 1st round. it's just nonsense trolling to say paul comes up small in the playoffs:

his last series in NOR
-Paul played 40+ minutes every night,
-Scored 20+ points in 5/6 games
-Avg'd 22 pts, 12+ assists, ~2 steals
-Shot 55% from the field
-Shot a whopping 47% from three
-Had >10 steals in the series

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... offs::none

that's just stupid.

Dude--- Tracy McGrady's career playoff stats..


Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2000 Toronto 3 3 37.0 .386 .286 .875 7.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 16.7
2001 Orlando 4 4 44.5 .415 .200 .816 6.5 8.3 1.8 1.3 33.8
2002 Orlando 4 4 44.5 .462 .313 .739 6.3 5.5 .5 1.8 30.8
2003 Orlando 7 7 44.0 .448 .340 .773 6.7 4.7 2.0 .9 31.7
2005 Houston 7 7 43.0 .456 .370 .824 7.4 6.7 1.6 1.4 30.7
2007 Houston 7 7 40.0 .394 .250 .737 5.9 7.3 .7 .9 25.3
2008 Houston 6 6 41.2 .425 .208 .623 8.2 6.8 1.5 .8 27.0
2012 Atlanta 6 0 15.0 .385 .000 .833 2.8 1.0 .0 .3 4.2
2013 San Antonio 6 0 5.2 .000 .000 .000 1.3 1.2 .3 .5 .0
Career 50 38 34.5 .426 .290 .757 5.7 5.0 1.1 .9 22.2

Those numbers **** on CP3's... is that trolling also, or can you admit I proved you wrong?

[puja21]

Don't see how that was trolling?... I listed every PG Id take over him

ridiculous post as usual -- who cares if the TEAM got out of the 1st round. it's just nonsense trolling to say paul comes up small in the playoffs:

his last series in NOR
-Paul played 40+ minutes every night,
-Scored 20+ points in 5/6 games
-Avg'd 22 pts, 12+ assists, ~2 steals
-Shot 55% from the field
-Shot a whopping 47% from three
-Had >10 steals in the series

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... offs::none

that's just stupid.

Dude--- Tracy McGrady's career playoff stats..


Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2000 Toronto 3 3 37.0 .386 .286 .875 7.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 16.7
2001 Orlando 4 4 44.5 .415 .200 .816 6.5 8.3 1.8 1.3 33.8
2002 Orlando 4 4 44.5 .462 .313 .739 6.3 5.5 .5 1.8 30.8
2003 Orlando 7 7 44.0 .448 .340 .773 6.7 4.7 2.0 .9 31.7
2005 Houston 7 7 43.0 .456 .370 .824 7.4 6.7 1.6 1.4 30.7
2007 Houston 7 7 40.0 .394 .250 .737 5.9 7.3 .7 .9 25.3
2008 Houston 6 6 41.2 .425 .208 .623 8.2 6.8 1.5 .8 27.0
2012 Atlanta 6 0 15.0 .385 .000 .833 2.8 1.0 .0 .3 4.2
2013 San Antonio 6 0 5.2 .000 .000 .000 1.3 1.2 .3 .5 .0
Career 50 38 34.5 .426 .290 .757 5.7 5.0 1.1 .9 22.2

Those numbers **** on CP3's... is that trolling also, or can you admit I proved you wrong?

umm no you didn't prove anything. You just showed the numbers of a typical volume scorer

haha 42% shooting? 29% 3pts? Come on.

You might want to look at Paul again and think about what you've said

Unless your man is killing you or the overall team is absolutely shredding your defensive scheme because of you (neither applies to paul versus the lakers), you literally CAN"T hurt your team putting up the numbers he did in that series. He was the best player in the playoffs for that round. Almost 50% from three? Big AND efficient numbers in huge minutes.

You are just wrong and it's not even close enough to argue your side. He did not come up small in the playoffs. Period.

[bwgood77]

This is stupid. They barely had enough space to sign Howard to a max deal. They wouldn't have been able to sign Paul no matter what. Even if they got rid of Lin and Asik (which would have been unlikely anyway).

[Dolphin Lips]

PUJA21-- Paul is an elite PG, I just dont want a diva on my squad that hasn't won anything... Not saying Felton is even close to CP3, but the guy gets traded for Melo, spends a miserable season in Portland and comes back to the Knicks and is all smiles... Team chemistry wins Rings, not a talented PG who will only stay if they trade a 1st round pick for Doc Rivers

[kleong1012]

If a player ever did this to me (lets assume I was the GM/owner), I'd sign him for the max and then trade him as soon as I can to the worst possible team.

The players have to much power right now. I don't like it.

First, business is business. If you let it get personal, you're going to lose.

In this situation, CP3 did this to Clippers. And you speak that you would sign him for the max and trade him? Well he problem is he wont sign with the Clippers. So how are you going to sign him then?

Secondly, what makes a team the worst possible team is lack of actual assets. You're going to get pennies on the dollar. Not only that, if you are trading a max player to a terrible team, the team wont be that bad when they arrive because they are a max player for a reason.

Thirdly, If you were a GM and you did that, you would get fired. Clippers want to earn money, and you trading away a max player cause you're bitter will get you fired.

Lastly, When all the power is in the owner, you will get cheap owners putting up mediocre teams to save money, who loses? The fans.

[puja21]

PUJA21-- Paul is an elite PG, I just dont want a diva on my squad that hasn't won anything... Not saying Felton is even close to CP3, but the guy gets traded for Melo, spends a miserable season in Portland and comes back to the Knicks and is all smiles... Team chemistry wins Rings, not a talented PG who will only stay if they trade a 1st round pick for Doc Rivers

i'm biased because i worked for Wake Forest basketball when Paul was there, but I think he absolutely can win and be a good teammate Granted this was almost 10 years ago, but he was nowhere near a diva when he was 18/19

Doc has a proven track record of getting stars/egos to play hard and play together. Remember, KG flamed out in the first round 7 years in a row before he got to Boston and teamed up with Doc, Pierce, Allen. They might not be able to overcome OKC/Houston simply on talent, but I expect LA to have chemistry this year.

As far as the Felton comparison ~ the Paul comments about Houston are just heresay. Do you hate Melo for forcing his way out of Denver? It's the climate of the league-- 100% guaranteed contracts... players have all the leverage when there is a market for them.

Even if true, Paul was a free agent and had the advantage. LA didn't have to sign him. Theycould have just as easily said "OKay, good luck, Chris." He also "demanded" a max salary, which he earned with his leverage. The market dictates you can get away with it. Felton came back smiling because he was humbled and lucky to have a job. You are comparing a journeyman whose only real success came out of D'Antoni's system to a Hall of Famer. The diva/chemistry stuff is way overblown, and you were just wrong saying he "always comes up small in the playoffs"

This is why people think you are a trolll. You say things that don't make sense to be dramatic

[P3JA for 3]

Chris Paul is overrated-- He can play in the regular season but when its playoff time he comes up small.... Dating back to his NO Hornets days when they had Tyson Chandler and finished 2nd in the West--- He's only made it out of the 1st round twice in his career.... Id take Kyrie Irving, Russ Westbrook, D Rose, D Williams, Tony Parker, Rondo, and Damion Lilliard over him

Oh yeah and BTW--- Bill Simmons and all of ESPN besides Magic suck

When he had Tyson Chandler? LOL. I'm also a Knicks fan, ok. Chandler isnt a scorer, so what does that really mean. He took Spurs to 7 games, had no bench(aside from Pargo, PARGO) and guys who were just jupshooters. Peterson, David West, Peja(although he is my favorite player, lets be honest, he was just a jumpshooted in NO).

C'mon now. Again, look at the bigs he had to work with. Turiaf, Odom, D. Jordan, Hollins, and Griffin. Barnes, and Grant Hill, who didnt play. Aside from Butler, Crawford, and Griffin, he did not have much.Beldsoe is good with the ball in his hands and is an undersized SG, who cant shoot...then u have Billups, who is another PG that was undersized. It wasnt the right miz. Defense may be their problem with Reddick, Crawford there and D. Jordan not in the game in the 4th, but we will have to see.


You'd take Dwill over him? Why exactly? Both have dealt with injuries, but Paul always gets his team into the playoffs. Will has always had more talent surrounding him, and is still considered better. Put Parker on the Clippers and see what they do. The others you mentioned are all younger and more explosive so I wont argue with those. Maybe Lillard. Doesnt mean that they are better than him though.

Im a Knick fan, and I hate to say this but the Nets with D-Will running the point will challenge the Heat-

THEY BETTER, are you kidding me? They have an allstar at each starting position. THEY BETTER. I would have taken Booker, AK, Okur, Korver and the rest of that roster, with Sloan as coach over B. Scott, Chandler, West, Peja(sorry Peja), and Mo-Pete.

[P3JA for 3]

PUJA21-- Paul is an elite PG, I just dont want a diva on my squad that hasn't won anything... Not saying Felton is even close to CP3, but the guy gets traded for Melo, spends a miserable season in Portland and comes back to the Knicks and is all smiles... Team chemistry wins Rings, not a talented PG who will only stay if they trade a 1st round pick for Doc Rivers

Cant blame him for making sure that he isnt miserable after resigning years later, right? Why shouldnt he have special privileges if they tell him that he is the face of the franchise? Oh yeah, cuz he hasnt won a ring. He's never had a 2nd player that commands a double team either. West/Griffin were never that. You could 1 on 1 them.

[P3JA for 3]

Chris Paul is overrated-- He can play in the regular season but when its playoff time he comes up small.... Dating back to his NO Hornets days when they had Tyson Chandler and finished 2nd in the West--- He's only made it out of the 1st round twice in his career.... Id take Kyrie Irving, Russ Westbrook, D Rose, D Williams, Tony Parker, Rondo, and Damion Lilliard over him

Oh yeah and BTW--- Bill Simmons and all of ESPN besides Magic suck

With your same logic, Kyrie Irving and Damion Lilliard are not as good as Chris Paul.

Westbrook plays next to Durant and has different shooting tendencies than Chris Paul. Rondo is not developed as offensively as Chris Paul and also Rondo won a championship playing next to KG, Pierce, and Ray Allen.

If you switched Tony Parker with Chris Paul, try to imagine Tony Parker carrying that team. I do not think the Clippers would have nearly the same record. Playoff impact of these two players is arguable, but Tony Parker has the luxury of playing with Popovich and Tim Duncan in his career as well as playing with Ginobli back when he was in his prime.

Deron Williams, are you talking about the Deron Williams from Utah or the Deron Williams from NJ?

And of course, Derrick Rose ... fair enough.

I don´t see how Chris Paul is overrated. He´s a great player who impacts the way teams play defense and does everything and more from the PG spot. Also, his impact in the playoffs is tremendous.

To say he is overrated is just plain trolling.

Great 1st ever post. lol

[thedarkstark]

Remember, KG flamed out in the first round 7 years in a row before he got to Boston and teamed up with Doc, Pierce, Allen. They might not be able to overcome OKC/Houston simply on talent, but I expect LA to have chemistry this year.

KG brought a team whose 2nd best and 3rd best player were an aging Sam Cassell and a washed up Sprewelll to the Western Conference Finals. Their next best players? Fred Hoiberg and Trenton Hassell Those Timberwolves teams were awful outside of Garnett.

And I hate Kevin Garnett, but he was so obviously carrying that team much further than they deserved to be carried.