NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers Can Win Without Chris Paul

Sources say that the Los Angeles Clippers have called their pursuit of NBA superstar Chris Paul “over” for now.

Following one of the most massively dramatic weekends in NBA history, in which commissioner David Stern vetoed a trade that would send Paul to the Lakers, ESPN's Marc Stein said the Los Angeles Clippers had stepped in as favorites to land the young superstar point guard.

While the idea of pick-and-rolls from Paul to Blake Griffin in the Staples Center had NBA minds across the country doing a double take at the infinite basketball possibilities, the Clippers are smart to make their stance clear. 

So as long as the league, which now acts as the operating owner of the New Orleans Hornets, pushes to force more assets out of the Clippers hands, the Clippers are smart to not bite too soon.

I wanted Paul to go to the Clippers as much as I wanted him to go the Lakers, or to the Knicks. 

I don't want to see him play for the Hornets anymore; his production for any of those three teams would be brilliant for basketball and entertainment.

Still, the Clippers are often critiqued for their lack of smart management, but while their decision to "move on" from Chris Paul is disappointing, it's also logical. 

The team that the Clippers currently have in place is suddenly positioned for playoff success over a longer haul.

Paul, whose contract expires at the end of the shortened season, would have cost the Los Angeles Clippers many of the same players and prizes that helped them get to the position of power that they're finally in today.    

This includes young star Eric Gordon, a proven stud who averaged 22.3 PPG and 1.27 SPG last season.

Gordon, a graduate of Indiana University and seventh overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, is a pivotal part of the Clippers franchise identity. 

Last season, he scored more than 30 points eight times and had 12 consecutive games in which he eclipsed 20 points.

The agreed upon deal would also send the unprotected first-round pick of the Minnesota T-Wolves (in a fantastic draft class) to the Hornets, as well as 2010 first-round pick and former Kentucky standout Eric Bledsoe, 2010 first-round pick from Wake Forest Al-Farouq Aminu and longtime Clippers center—and valuable expiring contract—Chris Kaman.

Those would be the Clippers' top five trading assets, as Griffin is virtually a locked clause for the Clippers.

Rather than selling every asset to the Hornets and virtually giving in to David Stern’s insane demands, it’s smarter basketball for the Los Angeles Clippers to let the team continue to build as is.

Without getting into the details of why the trade was vetoed, getting into legal issues, the NBA lockout and small market vs. big market, I would rather look at what the Clippers did do. 

Rather than biting the bullet, the Clippers were aggressive and intelligent.

The Clippers have made three impact signings in the past week, thus giving the team more depth to grow.

The first signing brings back former Clipper Caron Butler for three years at $24 million.  Butler was a valuable player for the Mavericks before injuring his right knee. 

Playing alongside Gordon and Griffin, he should continue his recent success.

After signing Butler, the Clippers made a move on picking up Chauncey Billups off of waivers.  The Clippers bid of approximately $2 million means that the Knicks owe Billups the remainder of his $14.2 million salary.

With that, however, the Clippers still weren’t done; they were able to re-sign young center DeAndre Jordan to a four-year, $43 million contract.  This gives them a special depth that many teams do not offer.

With Billups and Butler added to a team that already featured Mo Williams, the Clippers offer veteran experience to check much of the young talent of Griffin, Gordon, Aminu, Bledsoe and others.

In a short season, teams that are younger and more athletic should see much more success than an aging team like the Boston Celtics or San Antonio Spurs.

With the team that they have in place now, that’s exactly what the Clippers show.  While young, they also have the leadership that reminds them that they’re very much ready to play with some of the bigger talents in the league.

Following the model of the Oklahoma City Thunder success, building within the draft is an incredibly valuable tool for professional sports.

The reason why the Clippers were able to contend for Paul in the first place is because of their five most valuable assets—all built from the draft or related to the NBA Draft.

If they’re able to turn the T-Wolves' pick into another asset, or sign Paul once he plays out the year in New Orleans (which seems to be the wishes of commissioner Stern), the Clippers could immediately contend as one of the best franchises in the NBA.

For those keeping track at home, I’m just as surprised as you are.

Still, this Clippers team is doing much right, and it was a compliment to management that Paul was looking at the team to begin with.

Fortunately, the organization was able to realize that it would be smarter to try to win with the team that they have—or play lower and potentially try to score Paul for a cheaper option that doesn’t include all five trade chips—before breaking up what looks to be working in L.A. 

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