Chris Paul Trade to Clippers Discussion

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Which potential trade would do most to elevate a team to contender status or solidify its position at the top of the league?

BUCHER: A number of star-quality players could be available on the market once the NBA resolves its labor issues, providing a variety of teams the chance to elevate themselves with one bold move. For me, though, the Bulls are the team that most needs to add a piece to solidify itself as a threat to win a title. The guy they should go after is Joe Johnson.

 

I have not heard Johnson's name in trade talks, nor have I heard that Atlanta is desperate to move someone, even though Josh Smith has made it known he'd love to have a new home. But after yet another disappointing finish, I have to believe the Hawks know that Johnson will never make the six-year, $129 million deal he signed a year ago work fiscally in Atlanta.

 

So, with that in mind, I believe that not only could the Bulls tempt the Hawks to part with Johnson for some combination of Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Kyle Korver or Ronnie Brewer, but that they must if they have dreams of building off last season's conference finals appearance.

 

BROUSSARD: I agree that putting Johnson in Chicago would make the Bulls a full-fledged title contender, but I don't see why Atlanta would do such a deal. The size and length of the deals of Boozer (four years, $60 million) and Deng (three years, $40 million) are just as onerous as Johnson's, and neither player -- or even both -- would make Atlanta a contender. So I don't think that deal could happen.

The obvious deal that would turn the league upside down would be Oklahoma City sending Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins to New Orleans for Chris Paul. The one problem with this deal is that I don't think Paul would sign long-term with the Thunder.

Instead, I propose a Los Angeles Clippers trade of Eric Gordon and Mo Williams (or the expiring contract of Chris Kaman) for Paul. Gordon is a rising star around whom New Orleans can build, and I believe that Paul would sign in L.A. Paul and Blake Griffin would be a devastating tandem, and Paul also could make the fast-improving DeAndre Jordan at least as dangerous as Tyson Chandler. With a supporting cast of Ryan Gomes, Randy Foye, Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Bledsoe (not to mention Kaman or Williams), the Clippers would be as dangerous as anyone out West.

 

BUCHER: I'm glad you didn't go with the Westbrook-Paul trade; I can understand an Okie who fell in love with Paul during the Hornets' two-year OKC sojourn proposing it, but anyone else giving it a second thought needs a Lasik appointment. As in no deal could be more shortsighted. Westbrook is a 22-year-old beast of a point guard who has never missed a game and already led his team to a conference final as a second-team all-pro. Trading him for a point guard who, great as he has been, has had two injury-shortened seasons already, is undersized and has an iffy knee at 26? That's as sensible as voluntarily dealing Dwight Howard for Amare Stoudemire.

Your deal sending Paul to the Clippers is infinitely more viable, but I have two concerns: One, the Clippers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league and would be giving up two of their best 3-point shooters. Two, if CP3 is more interested in hitching his wagon to Donald Sterling and the ever-struggling Clips because they're in L.A., as you insinuated, rather than chasing a title with the far-more-solid Thunder because they're in OKC, what does that say?

As for the Hawks' sending Johnson to the Bulls, Atlanta would have to deal a second contract (Marvin Williams?) to take both Deng and Boozer in a deal. Why would they do it? Because Joe for Booz and Deng alone would save them $17 million and Johnson's deal ramps up far more severely than the two they'd be getting, so if they don't move him soon, it's going to get infinitely harder. Throw in Williams -- whom they've been shopping hard for two years -- and they'd save more than $30 million. The Hawks are not a contender as is, yet they'd still be a playoff team with Boozer and Deng, so why not make that trade?

 

BROUSSARD: Paul is a good 3-point shooter, nailing 39 percent from behind the arc last season, better than Gordon and roughly the same as Williams. The Clippers could also find another 3-point shooter to add during free agency or via trade. One signing that would make sense would be unrestricted free agent and Los Angeles native Arron Afflalo. He could start next to Paul in the backcourt. He's a strong defender and career 41 percent shooter from 3, having shot better than 42 percent the past two seasons. That crew right there is enough to steal L.A. from the Lakers for a few years.

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