NBA Rumors: Chris Paul's Interest in Clippers Makes Them Favorites to Land Star

More and more it looks like the Los Angeles Clippers are going to land the coveted point guard, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets. There are two reasons for this. First, they have assets that they need to get him which fulfill the NBA's demands of youth. Second, Chris Paul wants to go there. 

While the words "wants to go to the Clippers" don't exactly readily roll off the tongue, there's actual reports that Paul wants to go there, or at the very least would be willing to sign a long term extension there 

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While Paul had long hoped he could wind up with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire in New York, sources close to Paul have previously told SI.com that Los Angeles -- either with the Clippers or Lakers -- is a desirable long-term landing spot, as well. Because Paul can become a free agent next summer, teams are looking for some assurance that he would eventually commit beyond this season.

 

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According to the latest rumors, the Los Angeles Times reports that the Hornets would be getting a lot of youth. 

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The Clippers would send the Hornets center Chris Kaman, backup second-year guard Eric Bledsoe, second-year forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the No. 1 draft pick they got from the Minnesota Timberwolves that is unprotected in the 2012 draft, considered to be one of the best in recent years.

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Considering the Timberwolves recent penchant for failure, this will be the year that they finally "win" the lottery. 

There are four teams that have come up in conjunction with the point guard, the Lakers and the Knicks are more or less out of it because they simply don't have the right assets to offer. 

New York tried to trade Amar'e Stoudemire but were rebuffed due the uninsurability of his contract. 

The Lakers had agreed to a trade but the deal was killed by NBA commissioner David Stern because there was not enough youth involved in the deal. 

The Warriors were tempting the Hornets with Stephen Curry but that was rejected because Paul would not give the Warriors assurances of an extension. 

That leaves the Clippers and their offer. Only they have the right combination of youth and an agreement to extend. That's why Chris Paul will end up in LA, just not with the Lakers.