Los Angeles Clippers Will Regret Trading Chris Paul for Star Guard

The New Orleans Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers agreed to terms on a deal that will make Chris Paul a Clipper. Finally.

After tip-toeing around negotiations for what seemed like months, the trade rumors surrounding Paul can finally cease. For now.

The Hornets made out like bandits in this trade. New Orleans receives a budding young star in Eric Gordon, the expiring contract of Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and the Minnesota Timberwolves' unprotected 2012 first-round draft pick.

Gordon gives the Hornets a player to build around, Aminu provides potential, Kaman is a solid big man—who comes off the books next summer—and the potential value of that draft pick is obvious.

For the Clippers, they got their second superstar in Paul. He is perhaps the best floor general in the league, and is also a perimeter-defending connoisseur. His presence instantly signifies that Los Angeles' current basketball version stepchild—though maybe not for much longer—could be playoff bound.

Was this a good trade for both sides?

For the Hornets? Certainly. The best Paul trade one can make is not trading him at all, but under the circumstances, they came away with a ton of tangible and potential assets.

For the Clippers? In terms of immediacy, yes. In terms of the future? Potentially not.

Los Angeles is a huge market, one that Paul most certainly wants to play in, but does he really want to do that as a member of the Clippers?

This isn't to say anything against the organization—although Donald Sterling is a penny-pinching time-bomb—but the fact is this team will always be pushed to the back-burner as long as the Lakers remain an active franchise.

Blake Griffin is absolutely terrific, DeAndre Jordan is an athletic machine and Paul is as gifted as they come, but while they may be enough to transform the team's culture and reputation, it is nowhere near enough to eclipse the rich history of the Lakers.

And it is for that reason that Paul may not be in Los Angeles to stay. Per the trade agreement, Paul opted into the final year of his contract, which keeps him with the Clippers through next season, but after that there is no guarantee of his return.

Paul has spent his entire career as a large fish in a tiny pond, and while he has made the move into a larger market, that market already belongs to another team. The point guard will not be so apt to play for a team who will be viewed as second-best no matter what they accomplish.

Don't believe it? 

If Paul was so sure that he could have a future with the Clippers, why not assure them he would re-sign once he opted out this summer? He would have done just that had he been dealt to the New York Knicks or Lakers, so why not the Clippers?

Paul's plan was always to opt out, no matter where he went. He stands to earn more money by taking that route, while also keeping his options open. That being said, he would have been a lock to re-up with the Knicks or Lakers, but the same cannot be said for his new team.

The star guard's willingness to opt in for an extra year does show that he has an interest in what this team can do long term, but it also indicates he has some serious doubts that need tending to. 

A combination of Griffin and Paul should prove to be amazing, but what if it isn't? What if, for some reason, these two don't click?

Better yet, and far more likely, what if the duo's first season together in tinsel town goes awry? Newcomers always struggle to develop chemistry with teammates, but this situation is even more complex because of the condensed schedule the Clippers are headed toward.

But that is why the Clippers insisted on getting that extra year out of Paul, correct? Yes, this is true, but there remains the possibility that you could be sitting in a chair, staring at the computer screen and sifting through information identical to what you have been exposed to now.

If the Clippers struggle to the point where they don't even make the playoffs this season, what's stopping Paul from telling the organization he has no plans to sign an extension the following summer?

Nothing.

Make no mistake that Paul is intrigued about the prospect of playing in Los Angeles as a member of the Clippers, but he is far from sold on it. So in essence, Los Angeles just shipped out a plethora of talent for what could become a long-term rental.

Yes, the Clippers can bask in the glory that is this Paul acquisition, but only for now.

When all is said and done and Paul is staring down the barrel of free-agency once again next season, there is a very real possibility that his departure could become imminent.

And should that happen, this immense sense of elation the Clippers are currently experiencing will quickly transition into self-loathing regret.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.