“Blake is a tremendous young talent. I can see me and him becoming a deadly combination. Hopefully we can be the next [Sam] Cassell and [Elton] Brand.”
“Anything is possible!!!!” was the cry heard from Donald Sterling when the, once rescinded, Chris Paul to LA Clippers, trade was finalized. You have to give it to the Clippers organization, for once they showed some ‘sticktuitiveness’. Now they have arguably the best point alongside unarguably the most talented and promising young forward in the league. Chris Paul made David West a two-time All Star, so imagine what he’ll turn Blake Griffin into (Karl Malone infused with Amar’e?). Let’s hope the ‘Clipper curse’ doesn’t find its way into Blake’s knees, or Chris Paul’s knees for that matter. Think about how much better Blake will be with the best playmaker in the game at the helm. This summer everyone was salivating over, newly minted NBA champion, Tyson Chandler. The same Tyson Chandler that New Orleans traded for Emeka Okafor. The same Tyson Chandler who played five forgettable years in Chicago. The same Tyson Chandler everyone had written off before he teamed with Chris Paul. Now Chandler has joined the Knicks and is heralded as the answer to all their defensive liabilities. In addition to the insane pick and roll nightmares Paul and Griffin create, don’t forget about Tyson Chandler Redux – DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers traded everything but the kitchen sink to get Paul. Luckily this kitchen sink is 6’11 and hates when you try to score on his basket.
“The city of New Orleans has been great to me these past six years. We’ve been through a lot together, but I think the thing I’ll miss most is the drunk tourists on Bourbon Street.”
Once the original Chris Paul to LA (Lakers) trade didn’t go through, I thought the team hurt most was New Orleans. As they stood to lose Paul but gain Lamar Odom, Luis Scola and Kevin Martin, a very solid Nuggets-esque team makeover, before David Stern vetoed the trade. Stern’s shrewdness seems to have paid dividends once again. The Clippers lost a perennial All Star, but gained a former All Star in Chris Kaman, a future All Star in Eric Gordon, an athletic wing in Al Farouq-Aminu and a possible franchise player with Minnesota’s (bound to be lottery) 2012 draft pick. That’s a wealth of talent for a player who was adamant about going to either New York or LA. Originally, it probably didn’t dawn on Paul how good of a fit he’d be on the other LA team. He’s now one-two with a beastly power forward, as opposed to an aging, albeit great, shot-happy two guard. The question heard ‘round the Internets is “are the Clippers better than the Lakers?” In short, we don’t know, and no one will know until both teams have finished making moves. Two important variables for the LA teams: will Bynum’s knees hold up, and how much will Griffin improve in his second year? If Bynum is healthy and fully mobile than he’s a force and one of the best centers in the league, but if he can’t stay on the court then the Lakers are in trouble. Blake impressed/surprised everyone at how good he was as a rookie, and if he continues to make leaps and bounds then the Clippers as a whole will be an absolute force.
“Besides being in Los Angeles and playing beside Blake, I think I’m most excited about receiving point guard tutelage from coach Del Negro.”
Good thing the Clippers were able to maintain the services of DeAndre Jordan because with a Timberwolves-like four legitimate point guards they’ll need someone to protect the rim. After the initial trade to the Hornets fell through the Clippers signed Chauncey Billups, then the revised trade had them shipping two-guard Eric Gordon instead of Eric Bledsoe, and don’t forget about Mo ‘LeBron look what you’ve done’ Williams. The Clips now find themselves stockpiled at the one-spot with four guards who are all better than Vinny Del Negro ever was. Due to amnesty rules, Chauncey can’t be traded so look for Bledsoe and Williams to be shipped out of town – and hey, has anyone signed Jamal Crawford yet? This is the most exciting time to be a Clippers fan since, well maybe ever. While he’s only locked in for two years, Chris Paul playing alongside Blake Griffin for a reinvigorated franchise has unlimited potential, and alters the landscape of the Western Conference. One thing you won’t be hearing Chris Paul say anytime soon “I want a trade.”
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