Paul and Howard will be the biggest free agents on the market this summer, and their desire is to play together, the sources said.

"They would love to play together if somebody can make it happen," one of the sources said.

The Atlanta Hawks could make it happen. Atlanta, which is Howard's hometown, has the cap room to sign both players to maximum-salaried contracts.

Howard is not particularly fond of the idea of returning to Atlanta, but he would do so to team up with Paul, the sources said.

But Paul, despite recently being upset with the Clippers over the perception that he got coach Vinny Del Negro fired, is unlikely to leave Los Angeles, one source said. He has gotten over his anger with the club and likes living in Los Angeles.

"It would be very tough for him to go to Atlanta," the source said. "He loved Atlanta when they should have drafted him in '05 but not so much since then. But hey, everybody is an option at this point."

The preference for both players would be to play together for the Clippers, according to the sources. Because the Clippers don't have enough cap room to sign Howard as a free agent, it would take a sign-and-trade deal with the Lakers to make it happen.

The Clippers would be open to working out a deal, but they fear the Lakers would never trade Howard to them, according to the sources.

But while trading Howard to a team in their own building seems unthinkable, the Lakers are not likely to get a better trade package elsewhere than say, Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe.

Sources say there was a faction of the Clippers organization that entertained the idea of trading Griffin for Howard when Howard wanted out of Orlando in 2012. But others within the franchise regarded Griffin as "untouchable," and there were never any serious discussions with Orlando.

Multiple sources insist Griffin remains untouchable. But realistically he would have to be included in any deal that brought Howard to the Clippers.

Paul and Howard have been communicating via text messages. This is not the first time they've talked about teaming up together.

During the lockout of 2011, they spoke often about going to Dallas together to play for the Mavericks. But their subsequent trades, Howard's decision to opt into the final year of his contract in Orlando and Dallas' current payroll situation seemed to eliminate the possibility of them becoming teammates.

Put Blake with Pau up front and if the Mamba is 7/8 his old self with some humbleness they could be pretty good.

Blake is over rated, but if Dwight wants to leave at least get something good in return!

I still think Dwight ends up in Brooklyn with sign and trade for BroPez can happen. Its low odds thing of course but Deron is already there. Nets can put a package together and give the Lakes some EuroFlavor that MDA craves too!

Only on the conditions Dwight leaves the Giggle act behind. Saturday Nite Live is not calling anytime soon.

Portland: Tyson, Novak, 2014 2nd rd pick

LA: 39th, 40th, and 45th picks, and 20+ million is cap space.

NY: Jordan, Bledsoe, Butler, rights to Pap, and Leonard or 10th

3G4G wrote:This isn't new info both discussed playing with each other in 2009 going to Dallas to play with Dirk. As we know that never happened. The media needs stories to write so they are putting lots of runners out there to see who's camps bite.

Gotta admit if they could pull that off, that would be a real nice story.

I'd love to see Dirk win another, and Cuban is a great owner.

holfresh wrote:

tkf wrote:

Nalod wrote:......blah blah.....they want to play together, but they don't want to leave LA.......Or give up money........blah blah!

Put Blake with Pau up front and if the Mamba is 7/8 his old self with some humbleness they could be pretty good.

Blake is over rated, but if Dwight wants to leave at least get something good in return!

I still think Dwight ends up in Brooklyn with sign and trade for BroPez can happen. Its low odds thing of course but Deron is already there. Nets can put a package together and give the Lakes some EuroFlavor that MDA craves too!

Only on the conditions Dwight leaves the Giggle act behind. Saturday Nite Live is not calling anytime soon.

exactly I am so tired of this.. I would do Howard for bledsoe and Griffin and ask for a pick, then tell Howard to get the hell out of the lakers uniform and good riddance... these guys really get me sick.. jeez... cp3 and howard are busy playing phone connection when Howard should be at some big man's camp working on his friggin game..

You were all gaga with the thought of DHow going to Houston about a week ago..

I think tkf is more turned off at the idea chatter in the background amongst players is being made public not to mention the constant changing story of where they could end up. Thus far Deron Williams remains the sole high profile player who handled his situation properly.

NardDogNation wrote:

EnySpree wrote:Amare for Howard....Tyson in the mix for cp3....crazier things have happened....grunwald can manipulate the roster to allow sign and trades. Gotta be creative...if they are wit it, melo cp3 and Howard could happen

I admire your optimism but I can't see either of these guys being in play for us. I think Howard would be a more feasible "get" but I think he causes more grief than anything else. I'm probably allowing my feelings of him get the better of my judgement but I'd actually prefer to have Tyson.