sorry, missed this thread
Chris Paul looked destined to be traded to Los Angeles for the third time in four days on Sunday night, when the Los Angeles Times reported a deal that would send the New Orleans point guard to the Clippers was in the final stages of completion.The first two failed attempts would have sent Paul to the Lakers, but NBA commissioner and de facto Hornets owner David Stern vetoed the first proposal and the Lakers backed out of the second when they failed to reach the league's requests in a revised deal.
Two sources told SI.com early Sunday that the Clippers and Hornets had re-engaged in discussions, and a source close to Clippers second-year guard Eric Bledsoe said late Sunday night that he was under the impression a deal had been agreed upon and that he would likely be traded to the Hornets.
When reached by phone late Sunday and asked if an agreement in principle had been reached, Clippers president Andy Roeser declined comment to SI.com.
According to the L.A. Times , the Hornets would receive Bledsoe, center Chris Kaman, second-year forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the Clippers' unprotected, 2012 first-round draft pick that they received from Minnesota and that New Orleans general manager Dell Demps has coveted all along.
The deal must still be approved by Clippers owner Donald Sterling and the NBA, which owns the Hornets. The L.A Times claims the league will likely review the deal on Monday.
While Paul had long hoped he could wind up with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire in New York, sources close to Paul have previously told SI.com that Los Angeles -- either with the Clippers or Lakers -- is a desirable long-term landing spot, as well. Because Paul can become a free agent next summer, teams are looking for some assurance that he would eventually commit beyond this season.
Paul is known to be open to joining the Clippers long-term, but the supporting cast was likely taken into consideration when engaging in discussions with a franchise that has been a laughingstock for so long. While reigning Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin is the centerpiece of the team's new core, Eric Gordon -- whom the Clippers did not want to give up when the two teams talked last week, according to the L.A. Times -- and restricted free agent center DeAndre Jordan and are also key components.
And that's where it gets interesting: Jordan signed a four-year, $43 million offer sheet from Golden State on Sunday, according to this agent, Greg Lawrence. After seeing center Tyson Chandler sign with New York this week, the Warriors went after Jordan, banking on his athleticism and potential to improve upon his seven points and seven rebounds per game last season.
In order to free salary-cap room for the Jordan offer, the Warriors used their amnesty clause on veteran guard Charlie Bell and rescinded a qualifying offer to guard/forward Reggie Williams. Sources had confirmed that the Clippers gave Jordan a five-year, $40 million offer recently, and they will now have three days to match the Warriors' offer.
One source close to the Paul situation predicted the Clippers would match, noting that Jordan is a vital piece to their young core.
The Hornets seemed focused solely on the Clippers after the second trade attempt with the Lakers fell through. Sources said Golden State had not re-engaged in the discussions for Paul in any meaningful way. Boston was also among the teams pushing hard for Paul, but one of the principles of a Celtics proposal -- forward Jeff Green -- was signed to a one-year, $9 million deal on Saturday and cannot be traded by Boston for six months.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sam_amick/12/11/clippers.chris.paul/index.html#ixzz1gJTwu99X
Clippers are close to deal for Chris Paul with Hornets
The Clippers would send center Chris Kaman, guard Eric Bledsoe, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the No. 1 draft pick to get the All-Star point guard, in deal said to be in the closing stages of talks.
December 11, 2011, 11:10 p.m.
The Clippers and the New Orleans Hornets were working vigorously Sunday night to consummate a blockbuster deal that would send All-Star point guard Chris Paul to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers' cross-town rivals, said two people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak on the matter.
The deal hasn't been completed, but both sides were in the closing stages of the negotiations.
The Clippers would send the Hornets center Chris Kaman, backup second-year guard Eric Bledsoe, second-year forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the No. 1 draft pick they got from the Minnesota Timberwolves that is unprotected in the 2012 draft, considered to be one of the best in recent years.
Clippers owner Donald Sterling and the NBA have to sign off on the deal.
A package from the Lakers for Paul was turned down by the league.
The NBA will probably review the Clippers deal Monday.
What may actually help the Clippers get the deal done are the young players involved and a potential top-flight draft pick.
When the Clippers and Hornets talked about a deal involving Paul last week, New Orleans had expressed interest in Eric Gordon. However, the Clippers didn't want to part with the 6-foot-3 guard who turns 23 on Christmas Day, because they consider him one of the NBA's top-five shooting guards.
He is not part of the deal that is currently being discussed.
Bledsoe just turned 22, but he will be out until late January recovering from surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.
Aminu is 21 and Kaman is 29, but he's also in the final year of a contract that pays him $12.7 million, which makes him appealing.
The Clippers are aware that Paul, who will earn $16 million this season, can opt out of his contract this summer that pays him $17 million for the 2012-13 season.
The Clippers would love for Paul to sign an extension with them so they don't have him for just one season. If he doesn't agree to the extension, they hope he will pick up his option for next season.
Paul was involved in a trade to send him to the Lakers for Lamar Odom that involved three teams that was ultimately blocked by the NBA on Thursday.
It was a deal that would have sent Pau Gasol to the Houston Rockets, who in turn would have sent three players and a draft pick to the Hornets.
But the NBA killed that deal Thursday, opening the door for the Clippers to step back in.
Paul had called the NBA players' union and threatened legal action against the league for stopping the deal.
Paul is considered one of the top point guards in the NBA and the idea of putting him together with Clippers All-Star Blake Griffin would be hard for the Clippers to pass up.
Paul has averaged 18.7 points and 9.9 assists a game over his six-year career.
Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro was asked about Paul earlier Sunday at the team's first of two practice sessions.
Del Negro never mentioned Paul's name and didn't talk about what it might take to get the All-Star guard to the Clippers
"We're always looking to improve our team and if there's an opportunity there, we're going to sit down and we're going to listen," Del Negro said after Sunday's practice. "But I'm pleased with the guys that we have here now. We'll make our adjustments as we see fit. If there are opportunities, we're going to take a look at them."
Jordan offer
The Clippers finally got the offer sheet Sunday afternoon that restricted free-agent center DeAndre Jordan signed with the Golden State Warriors for four years and $43 million.
The Clippers, who plan on matching the offer sheet or risk losing the 6-foot-11 Jordan, have three days to make a decision.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clippers-20111212,0,2925892.story
12/12/2011 2:44 AM LAST EDITED: 12/12/2011 2:45 AM