The Clippers have recently become “nervous” about reports that Chris Paul is expected to meet with – and perhaps seriously consider – the Spurs in free agency, an executive tells Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. And San Antonio isn’t the only potential suitor Paul plans to talk to, according to Turner, who reports that the veteran point guard may meet with the Rockets and Nuggets as well.
If Paul gives serious consideration to leaving the Clippers, there will likely be no shortage of teams with interest in meeting with him. Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical suggested earlier this week that the Lakers and Heat could also get involved in the CP3 sweepstakes this summer. However, the Clippers should still have the upper hand in negotiations, with the ability to offer Paul more years and money than any other team, and with Jerry West joining the front office as a consultant.
[RELATED: Jerry West to leave Warriors for Clippers]
The Rockets and Nuggets probably aren’t likely landing spots for Paul, but they’d be fascinating ones. The Nuggets would be a better on-court fit for CP3, given Emmanuel Mudiay‘s slow development, but Denver typically isn’t a go-to destination for top free agents. As for the Rockets, they’re closer to title contention, but after James Harden had an MVP-esque season playing point guard, it would be surprising if Houston is willing to supplant him from that role, even for Paul.
Turner’s piece also cites several executives who say that the Celtics and Thunder are viewed as the two teams most likely to try to pry Blake Griffin away from the Clippers in free agency. Oklahoma City won’t have any cap room this summer, so if the Thunder were to make a serious run at Griffin, they’d have to dump salary or try to acquire him via sign-and-trade.
Feel like Paul representatives are starting these rumors to get leverage over the clippers so they make moves to improve the team. If he goes to the Spurs he would have to take less than the max from them. No way they pay him 35mill and Parker 15 mill next season and no way the Spurs get rid or Parker he is pops second son
Paul would make the Rockets the 2nd best team in the west and close to GSW
you’re delusional. rockets play no defense and they won’t ever win anything with D’Antoni
Pat Beverly and CP3 at the guard spots would offer to of the best defensive PG’s and then you could play Harden at SF
that wouldn’t work. harden couldn’t guard any good sf
D’Antoni will probably win coach of the year and Patrick Beverly is one of the best defenders at the guard spot and Trevor Ariza is top 10 in steals and Clint Ceapela(spelled his name wrong) is a blocking expert so the rockets can totally win
Won’t be enough if this Cavs super team happens. This is why the NBA sucks. There’s no parity at all.
Yet here you are, madman, on an NBA forum…
Chris Paul: Hello mr. West will you sign me to a Max five-year deal?
Jerry: ” no I’m afraid not son. You better go shop yourself around…. you’re done here.”
Okay thank you.
The C’s better stay far away from Griffin
And as for paul I think he goes to the spurs in a sign and trade
I wouldn’t mind Blake, but he should be nowhere near the Celtics first priority. Hayward and Millsap have to come first. Heck I’d almost bring back Kelly Olynyk before Blake Griffin.
nothing but leverage here, maybe for a melo deal
No idea how’d CP3 would work on the rockets, but they’d be stacked.
I’d gladly trade Whiteside and/or Dragic if Miami could really pull off CP3 and Heyward. Dragic is great, and on a great contract, and i like his fit on this team, but Chris Paul is still a top 6 player in the NBA, and is a clear upgrade in every sense. I’d love to have him on my team if possible
Nah… I disagree. Trading Dragic AND Whiteside to pick up CP3 and Hayward would be a downgrade for the Heat.
The Heat have roughly $36 mil in cap space.
What they should do is bring in Hayward, and then get rid of McRobert’s contract (whether using the stretch provision or trading him). Hayward’s first year salary would start around 30 million.
They should then try to get James Johnson or Dion Waiters to resign for 11-12 million or so annually on a 3-4 year deal. Preferably, Dion Waiters… Waiters will probably be looking for at least 15 million annually, but I’m sure Pat can make something work.
Last but not least, hopefully the Heat draft TJ Leaf. He can be a deadly 3pt shooter in the Heat system. I’d bring back Babbitt on a Vet min and look for a backup center to back up Whiteside. Rest of roster could be undrafted FA.
Starters:
C Whiteside
PF Hayward
SF McGruder
SG Waiters
PG Dragic
Bench:
C Free Agent
C Haslem
PF Leaf
PF Babitt
SF Winslow
SG T. Johnson
SG Ellington
PG Richardson
Rookie FA
Rookie FA
This team likes a solid 4/5 seed out east.
Well, if you want to talk about the scenarios I’ve talked about happening previously, or as it pertains to this particular article, that’s a different scenario….I was saying that if I could get Chris Paul, I’d be willing to change the previous thoughts.