Chris Paul Clippers Trade Finally Gets the Go Ahead
It’s officially “on like Donkey Kong” – Chris Paul is headed to the Clippers.
The NBA owned New Orleans Hornets agreed Wednesday to a trade that would ship off Paul to the (less popular) Los Angeles ball club in exchange for guard Eric Gordon, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, center Chris Kaman and an unprotected 2012 first-round draft choice.
The trade also involves New Orleans sending two future second-round draft picks to the Clippers.
Commissioner David Stern approved the trade on behalf of the league-owned Hornets.
“I knew we were doing the best thing for New Orleans and that was my job,” Stern said. “You have to stick with what you think was right.”
As pointed out by ESPN, the trade puts Paul, a four-time All-Star who averaged 18.7 points and nearly 10 dimes per contest last season, in one of the NBA’s biggest markets, even if his new team plays in the shadow of the Lakers – the club Paul was almost traded to last week, only to have Stern nix the deal.
“I didn’t know it was going to happen. I was told yesterday that it wasn’t going to be done,” Kaman told ESPNLosAngeles.com. “Everybody thought it was nixed, that it was dead. Then I guess something came back up today.”
Kaman added that the trade, which comes just after other recent Clippers moves that added Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler while retaining center DeAndre Jordan, most benefits high-flying, rookie of the year forward Blake Griffen, who averaged 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds in his first season for the team.
“I think the [Clippers are] pretty much set up for [Griffin] now. The 4 and 5 [positions] are done, locked in. Caron Butler is a great 3-man. He’s got Chauncey and Randy Foye coming in at the 2-spot. Now Chris Paul, All-Star point guard. What else can you ask for?”
Watch Blake Griffen, DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler react to the Chris Paul trade in the clip below:
Image/Source via ESPN Los Angeles
