Chris Paul is not going anywhere. The superstar point is expected to resign with the Los Angeles Clippers according to ESPN Los Angeles citing league sources. The deal is reportedly a $107 million, five-year contract which can now be legally offered to Paul since free agency began July 1 at 12:01 am.
Due to the moratorium on business—such as free agent signings and trades—throughout the NBA, Paul wouldn’t be able to sign the dotted line until the moratorium is lifted on July 10.
The sources said the Paul’s decision to stay in red and blue brings no shock to anyone. However, there was still the slightest amount of hope for other NBA teams. That hope is now gone.
Paul’s choice was most likely solidified when the Clippers picked up former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers and—in addition to being head coach—made him senior vice president of basketball operations.
The move was probably enticing to Paul because it will be the first time in his NBA career he’ll have a coach of this caliber.
Doc Rivers had major playoff success in Boston, making it to the NBA Finals twice and winning a championship once. Chris Paul has never made it past the second round of the NBA playoffs.
“Rivers and Paul together gives the Clippers an ideal nucleus for whatever championship ambitions they have for the foreseeable future,” writes Sekou Smith of NBA.com.
The Clippers have a few pieces to build around as they head into free agency—a successful head coach in Doc Rivers, arguably the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul and a bright young star in Blake Griffin. During the 2012-2013 season they also had one of the deepest benches in basketball lead by young point guard Eric Bledsoe—a player many said would be starting on many other teams.
According to NBA.com, organizatoins like the Toronto Raptors, are attempting to get their hands on Bledsoe. What the Clippers plan to do with the University of Kentucky product remains to be seen.
