Chris Paul Trade Rumors: Would Paul-Led LA Clippers Be Better Than LA Lakers?

The Clippers have rarely been mentioned in the same breath as the Lakers, until now.

Due largely in part to the Chris Paul sweepstakes, the Clippers are finally viewed as an actual roadblock to the Lakers' success, and they would only become a bigger obstacle should they snag the star point guard.

Both teams have walked away from talks at one point or another, but each still remains in hot pursuit of the franchise-altering Paul.

With the Hornets looking for an abundance of young talent in return for their star's departure, the Clippers' potential package is the clear favorite. The Lakers are far from out of the running, but would likely have to find a team other than—or in addition to—the Rockets to facilitate a deal.

The combination of Blake Griffin and Paul makes the Clippers instant postseason candidates, but does it make them better than the Lakers?

It sounds absurd to even entertain such a notion, but with the Lakers having already dealt Lamar Odom, and the Nets now the favorite to land Dwight Howard, they stand to become a severely damaged team if they miss out on Paul.

Looking at the current roster situation, the Lakers will remain postseason players. However, failure to acquire a major piece, especially after relinquishing Odom, hurts their championship aspirations. It also leaves the door open for other teams to move past them in the ranks.

Including the Clippers.

The Clippers have a plethora of young talent they are guaranteed to retain in the proposed Paul deal, most notably the likes of Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Add Paul to the mix, and they are sure to surpass the Lakers as the team to beat in Los Angeles, right?

While Paul allows the Clippers to at least contend with the current state of the Lakers, whether or not they become better depends largely upon the future of Eric Gordon.

New Orleans wants both Gordon and the Timberwolves' unprotected 2012 first-round draft pick included in any Paul deal, but the Clippers are determined to make them choose between the two. If the Hornets opt for the draft pick then the Clippers stand to out-perform the Lakers.

Paul is a great athlete and playmaker, and should thrive alongside Griffin. That said, without another substantial weapon, the Lakers low-post tandem of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum is better than the Griffin-Jordan combination for the Clippers.

The Clippers need that added presence on the perimeter to level the playing field since the low-post would be a wash. Griffin is prolific, but Jordan is unproven. The same can be said in regards to Gasol and Bynum, but Bynum, while inconsistent, remains more dominant both on the defensive and offensive ends than Jordan.

We can not neglect to mention Kobe Bryant here. Paul's presence in the backcourt would be huge for the Clippers, but without Gordon, the two-guard spot will have no answer for the outstanding Bryant.

So, would a Paul-led Clippers team be better than the Lakers? Without Gordon, no, but with him they would stand a fighting chance.

Just as it may be within Paul trade negotiations, Gordon will prove to be the difference in the Clippers' attempt to shift the balance of basketball power in Los Angeles.

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