NBA Trade Rumors: Clippers Should Steal Chris Paul Away from New Orleans

All the talk about Chris Paul seems to be revolving around the Los Angeles Lakers and what they would have to give up to make a deal for the All-Star point guard. 

But don't ignore the city's other team because they are ready to make a splash with one superstar already on the roster. 

The Los Angeles Clippers have been the laughingstock of the NBA forever. 

They have never had a clear direction because their ownership—namely Donald Sterling—has been so cheap and unwilling to do anything to build this team into a winner. 

But with Blake Griffin emerging as a superstar last season, the Clippers have a chance to build something special if they can lure one or two more big pieces into their neck of the woods. 

And it appears that they are going to try anything they can to make it happen. 

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, there is little movement in the talks between the New Orleans Hornets and Lakers about Paul, and two other California teams have more appealing offers on the table. 

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"Three teams in pursuit of Paul believe the Hornets will push for final offers—and make a decision—by the start of training camp on Friday, front-office sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Clippers’ and Warriors’ packages are the most intriguing to New Orleans general manager Dell Demps, league sources said."

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We don't know exactly who the Clippers have offered up for Paul's services, but according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, it did not include Eric Gordon or DeAndre Jordan. 

If I were running the Clippers, I would offer those players up in a heartbeat.  Paul is a true game-changing point guard.  That is the most important position on the court and he is arguably the best in the sport. 

There is a level of excitement surrounding the Clippers that we have never seen, but that anticipation will only last if the team is competing for the postseason and championships. 

The contract extension is going to be a delay, and I understand the Clippers' perspective on that, but you pair Paul and Griffin for one year and this team could be the second-best in the Western Conference. 

Ignoring the long-term ramifications, you have to be willing to mortgage some of your future in order to win big now.  The Clippers have that chance if they are serious about landing Paul in a deal.