Chris Paul to Clippers: All-Star PG Doesn't Make Clippers a Contender

Leave it to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Los Angeles’ “other” franchise has reportedly finally completed the blockbuster deal to acquire Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets. ESPN’s Marc Stein was the first with the report:

The traditional conference call vetting details and salary-cap compliance of the trade is scheduled for Wednesday evening as reported by CBS Sports analyst Ken Berger.

The hype train is in overdrive as CNBC Sports reporter Darren Rovell tweeted that the Clippers odds to win the title went from 50/1 to 15/1.

All of the names involved in the deal aren’t new, but the Clippers blew it by not standing strong with a different Eric. Instead of Eric Bledsoe, the Clippers part with Eric Gordon, the budding star 2-guard that is coming off a season where he averaged 22.3 points, and 4.4 assists…and is only 22 years old.

He is going to average at least 25 as the main man on the Hornets.

Remember, the Clippers were 30-52 a season ago. It’s not like CP3 is joining a playoff team that is missing one piece. They were 13 games back from the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzles. They weren’t even close.

The Clippers already signed Chauncey Billups to a contract, but Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski believes he’ll never suit up in a Clippers uniform.  That means Mo Williams and Bledsoe are the only other formidable guards on the roster. An injury-plagued Caron Butler is more of a forward. 

This is the part of the story where we remember that Paul had a major knee surgery and will have to wear a knee brace for the rest of his career. He clearly didn’t give a full effort in a large amount of the regular season last year because he wanted to preserve his knees for the playoffs.

He managed just fine last year, but how much longer can he keep it up?

The Clippers are going to get at least two good years out of the 26-year-old, but as the NBA mileage racks up on his legs, his knees will eventually erode. Will that happen around the same time Blake Griffin becomes a free agent?

There’s no question the Clippers are a better team today, but improving on a 30-52 record is like getting a C- in a class you failed with an F the year before. It’s all about baby steps.

We have never seen DeAndre Jordon or Griffin in a game of importance, and it remains to be seen if they can handle the pressure.

Oh, and by the way, are we sure Paul will sign an extension to stay with the Clippers?  

If he bolts after one year, this may be the worst trade of all time.