Chris Paul Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Gordon Should Be Untouchable

In the latest edition of “As the Chris Paul Trade Rumors Turn” the New Orleans Hornets are strongly pushing a deal with the LA Clippers with guard Eric Gordon as the centerpiece according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.

The report goes on to say that the Clippers really don’t want to give up Gordon and would much rather part with DeAndre Jordan via a sign-and-trade, with Chris Kaman, Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu as potential spare parts.

The Clippers are being smart for once; they should make Gordon untouchable.

He’s only 22-years-old and doesn’t have the baggage of multiple knee surgeries like Paul. Last year he emerged as an explosive playmaker that can score in a variety of ways, averaging 22.3 points and 4.4 assists. Gordon is a terrific shooter with much better range than Paul.

Sure CP3 has better ball-handling skills and is able to penetrate the lane much more effectively, but he’s four years older and playing with creaky knees that limit his impact on the floor. This isn’t the same player that was a few bounces away from the Western Conference Finals a few years back.

There may not be a way to prove this, but it was clear Paul went into cruise control at times during last year’s regular season to ensure his knee would hold up for the playoffs.

This problem isn’t going away.

Gordon has yet to reach his full potential and has a ceiling of a potential top 10 player in the league. Paul may be a top 10 player now, but he has peaked and will only perform at the level he’s currently playing at for another two-to-three years.

With Gordon we are talking eight-to-10 years.

On top of all that, the Clippers have no guarantee that Paul would even re-sign with the team. He could be a five month rental. The rest of the team isn’t ready to win a championship yet so renting CP3 would do nothing but setback this franchise.

The Clippers young nucleus is very intriguing and messing it up by over paying for Paul is going to ruin everything. Sometimes the real life trade isn’t as sweet as it sounds on NBA2K12.

If the Hornets refuse to trade Paul unless Gordon is involved…the Clippers would be crazy to keep listening.

Stay tuned for tomorrows episode of “As the Chris Paul Trade Rumors Turn.”