Chris Paul Trade Rumors: Clippers Claiming Chauncey Billups Keeps Deal Alive

The addition of Chauncey Billups has brought new life for the Los Angeles Clippers, which means a trade for Chris Paul is still possible. 

Despite Billups' request not to be claimed off waivers, the Clippers did so anyway right at the last minute. Now, this allows Los Angeles to talk to the New Orleans Hornets and feel better about sending away young talent. 

The Clippers decided to back out of the Chris Paul deal because the price was to high, but now, according Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, the deal could finally get finished, which would make a number of people happy. 

Berger's sources said the Hornets "have nowhere else to go. They have no choice." So, it appears as though Paul will really be heading out west, although I'm sure he would have rather been playing with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, but David Stern and the NBA killed that dream.  

There are few teams Paul wishes to be traded to, and the Clippers are one of them. Sure, those NBA officials in charge of the Hornets can trade him anywhere, but since he has the option of being a free agent at the end of the year, their only hope is to trade him to a team he'll sign somewhat of an extension with.

The Hornets have to deal Paul or else he'll walk away and the team is left with nothing. It was starting to look like that's what they wanted to do because the price for the All-Star point guard was so demanding, but that's all about to change now.

Berger talked about possible conspiracy theories since the Clippers all of the sudden sneaked in to claim Billups when they're in trade talks with an NBA-led organization.

This could all just be a coincidence, the Clippers thinking outside the box or the NBA finding a way to get the Hornets the best possible talent in return for Paul. Nobody knows what is going to happen, but it's good to know that at least the Chris Paul deal isn't completely dead. 

As for Billups, he should be happy he's going to a team with good talent and that he can't be traded. His remarks were brash, but being waived via amnesty prevents him from being dealt right now. 

He would certainly be angry about being picked up and then moved once again to an awful team—so upset that he might have even retired—but now he's on a team that has Blake Griffin and could be getting Chris Paul.

Not to mention he gets to be in Los Angeles—oh, the agony! Still, though, he could whine about playing behind Paul, but business is business and he has to accept that like a man. 

The Clippers need to keep pushing for Paul, and now that they have Billups it makes the move so much easier.