Paul eager to take Clippers from punch line to playoff...

Post #1 » by **mkwest** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:37 am

Still, it's not just the Clippers who are invested in this plan. Paul played a huge part in the process, convincing Olshey and coach Vinny Del Negro that he shared their vision during a two-hour phone conversation that took place before the deal. When it was done, Olshey was finally convinced that Paul wanted to be in a Clippers uniform and soon after agreed to send shooting guard Eric Gordon, veteran center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and a 2012 first-round pick from Minnesota to the Hornets.

"Everybody knows he's a high-IQ player, but this was more about the fact that he knew our roster, knew our assets, knew what he was going to need to see once he got here to be successful," Olshey said. "And I think that really inspired me to try to get a deal done."

Paul, ironically enough, was the one selling the deal.

"Yeah, I know the game better than just about anybody," Paul said. "I know who's on what team. I know what they're going to look like in the future. I know what their contract situations are and stuff like that. So knowing that it was going to be a possibility to come here, I was looking to come to win right away so I needed to be as informed as possible."

"If we continue to do all the right things in this organization and continue to build the culture the way we are, and get Blake hopefully locked up long term and continue to build, then we'll fulfill every obligation that we'd told Chris we would fulfill in order to get him to be here long term," Olshey said. "All I cared about was that Chris committed for as long as he possibly could based on the economics of the new collective bargaining agreement, and that gave me the confidence that this wasn't a lily pad to land on. He wants to be here. He wants to see it work."

"I'm here, and I plan on being here."

Sam Amick, Sports Illustrated

ChrisTheFuturePaul · Post #2 » by **ChrisTheFuturePaul** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:07 am

Good luck Clips, hope you make some serious noise in the playoffs! Will be good to see the organisation taken seriously as a contender.

LOJ · Post #3 » by **LOJ** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:01 pm

I want to see an aggressive Paul! I like it when defenses collapse on him, that's when this little guy is at his best.

TheNewEra · Post #4 » by **TheNewEra** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:55 am

we are going to need another elite performance from Paul it's the only way we win

RiversideClips · Post #5 » by **RiversideClips** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 4:17 pm

I still have a hard time accepting that CP3 wanted to come to the Clippers. Its amazing how a young core of players & a boost in Management can change the perception. I am still sad that EJ,Aminu & Caveman were traded, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.
CP3 is a floor General (+ Chauncey) & a dynamic player that makes team mates better.I also love the fact that he is the spokesperson on getting the Clips to the next level & letting Blake concentrate on improving all aspects of his game.
CP3 also brings fans w/ him, so CLIPPER Nation is growing as we speak! Nice to see people walking around So.Cal w/ Clipper gear on, even if they don't know who Michael Cage or Danny Manning are.
CP3 is a shot in the arm to the Clippers that makes them a team to be taken seriously. The team is still gelling & at the beginning of the year I thought if we got 38 Wins that would be great, w/ Paul I now think we can win 42-44 games.