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Chris Paul News & Rumors

Chris Paul comes to praise his teammates and bury the 76ers
February 11
Los Angeles Times
 columnist T.J. Simers
"The last guy I'm going to write about is Chris Paul, because he's already had his story. So I go to the arena here early Friday to renew acquaintances with Elton Brand, someone who knew what it was like to be cheered as a Clipper before these new guys arrived in L.A. He's had it tough here. And it's not good when you have it tough in Philadelphia because these people are mad they have to live in Philadelphia and ugly when you don't help them escape by playing well. "I know," he says. "You're going to forget me and write about Chris Paul now." Nice knowing you, Elton. No way I do it for anyone else, but there is no happier ending than when the good guy finishes as the hero. Now I realize we"
Chris Paul passes along lessons on the importance of family
February 10
Los Angeles Times
 
"You hear about someone and how impressive he is as a person, solid and all that. It has to be just a good show for the cameras, doesn't it? No one is too good to be true until you talk to Chris Paul. He has it, whatever it is that allows someone to have such an impact on those around him. It's one thing to feel chills while watching the Clippers' peewee guard go razzle and dazzle on everyone on the court. It's quite another to be moved and feel what his coach and teammates have been saying all along: He's special."
Chris Paul a difference-maker, thanks to David Stern
February 7
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Stan Van Gundy could have drawn a sizeable fine from the league's front office if he had analyzed what really happened Monday night. The official who had the most impact on the Magic-Clippers game at Amway Center was….Dastardly David Stern. The Clippers had Chris Paul, CP3, the Magic did not. Neither do the Lakers, who are ticked off more than anybody. If you remember, it was Stern who blocked a trade that would have sent Paul from New Orleans to what is now know as L.A's other. team – the Lakers. Stern, working on behalf of the league-owned Hornets, funneled Paul to the Clippers in a do-over."
Bryant, Bynum, Paul and Griffin lead All-Star picks
February 3
Los Angeles Times
 
"It's an L.A. All-Star team all right. The NBA announced today on TNT the starters for its All-Star game and the West squad is full of Lakers and Clippers. The West team's starting five, based on fan voting, are: guards Kobe Bryant (Lakers) and Chris Paul (Clippers), forwards Blake Griffin (Clippers) and Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City), and center Andrew Bynum (Lakers)."
Chris Paul slices and dices Jazz in 107-105 win
February 2
The Deseret News
 
"Where's Deron Williams when you need him? Wherever the New Jersey Nets are right now is the answer, of course. The Utah Jazz, who've fared fine without him this season, sure could have used the All-Star point guard on Wednesday night in a 107-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Two weeks after blowing out the Clippers with Chris Paul on the sideline injured, the Jazz got sliced and diced by elite playmaker who used to struggle mightily against D-Will."
Paul, Williams help Clippers earn rare win in Utah
February 2
The Deseret News
 
"The dandy little guard duo of Chris Paul and Mo Williams both missed the Los Angeles Clippers' last game against the Utah Jazz a couple of weeks ago with injuries. And the Clippers' outstanding young power forward, Blake Griffin, wound up taking a back seat that same night in his personal matchup with Utah counterpart Paul Millsap. That contest turned out to be no-contest at all, as the Jazz manhandled the Clippers in a 29-point beatdown, 108-79."
Chris Paul says hamstring 'feels great'
January 28
Los Angeles Times
 
"Sidelined with a strained left hamstring for five games this month, Chris Paul had plenty of time to observe the Clippers from their bench and perhaps see a new side of his team. What did the star guard's observations yield? Not much. "Just how bad I wanted to get back out there," Paul said Thursday after the team's 98-91 win against Memphis. Since returning, he's played in two games and said his hamstring "feels great." Paul, who had 18 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in 35 minutes against Memphis, also said he's working with the trainers to tend to that hamstring properly. "I don't want to miss anymore games," he said. He hasn't shot well in either of his two games back from"
Chris Paul and Pau Gasol trade barbs
January 26
ESPN.com
 
"If the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers didn't have a rivalry before Wednesday night, they certainly appear to have one now. After Clippers forward Blake Griffin fouled Lakers forward Pau Gasol with 1.1 seconds remaining in the Lakers' 96-91 win, Clippers guard Chris Paul tried to grab the ball from Gasol's hands as the two began jawing at one another. Gasol and Paul continued to talk while Lakers guard Kobe Bryant got in front of the two as Gasol walked to the free throw line. Before Gasol stepped to the line, he smiled and put his hand on top of Paul's head. Paul immediately shoved Gasol's hand away and tapped Gasol on his head. "He tried to touch the top of my head. I don't"
Chris Paul is back on the court for Clippers
January 26
Los Angeles Times
 
"For Chris Paul and the Clippers, the wait was finally over, the speculation about when he would play coming to an end Wednesday night against the Lakers. Paul started at point guard, his first time playing after sitting out the last five games because of a strained left hamstring. Paul practiced Tuesday, then worked out at the team's shoot-around Wednesday morning and again at Staples Center a few hours before the game. Paul had wanted to play sooner, but Coach Vinny Del Negro didn't want to rush back the All-Star guard."
Chris Paul's return to Clippers remains undetermined
January 24
Los Angeles Times
 
"The plan after the Clippers' game Sunday was for Coach Vinny Del Negro to work out point guard Chris Paul on Monday and test his strained left hamstring to determine when the All-Star might actually return. Plenty of signs point to Paul's coming back Wednesday night to face the Lakers in their designated home game at Staples Center. Del Negro wouldn't make any guarantees about Paul's return, and there was no practice Monday or a medical update on the Clippers star."
Clippers are cautious with Chris Paul's injury
January 23
Los Angeles Times
 
"Chris Paul has been working out, doing a lot of drills, testing his strained left hamstring to see whether it is ready to cooperate. But Paul wasn't ready to play Sunday, sitting out his fifth consecutive game, this time against the Toronto Raptors. Coach Vinny Del Negro said Paul worked out Saturday at practice and that the All-Star guard "feels great." But Del Negro said the "smart, prudent thing to do" was to not rush Paul back."
Chris Paul may return from hamstring injury Sunday versus Raptors
January 22
Los Angeles Times
 
"Chris Paul's strained left hamstring has sidelined him for four games, but the guard could make his return Sunday when the Clippers play host to the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center. Coach Vinny Del Negro said after practice Saturday that Paul completed a battery of basketball-related activities, including shooting, conditioning, stretching and lifting weights, and that he looked good. Paul had completed many of the same drills Friday, and he performed well enough then that the Clippers upped his workload on Saturday and he performed even better, making it likely that he'll play Sunday. Still, the decision will be made during Sunday morning's workout, Del Negro said. "If he does [play],"
Clippers' Chris Paul sits out again
January 19
Los Angeles Times
 
"Before the Clippers' game Wednesday night at Staples Center, Chris Paul was on the court working out. Paul still did not play against the Dallas Mavericks, sitting out his third straight game because of a strained left hamstring. Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said there was no timetable for Paul to return, just that the All-Star point guard still was listed as day-to-day. "He's feeling better," Del Negro said. "He's doing all his therapy, headed in the right direction. But we just want to make sure that we get him some work [Thursday] and then see how he feels for Friday and then go from there. It's day-to-day for him right now, but there's a process involved that the doctors and trainers"
Chris Paul, Mo Williams don't play against Jazz
January 18
Los Angeles Times
 
"It was like being at the hospital, listening to Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro give medical updates on his team. Chris Paul remains day-to-day after he missed his second straight game because of a strained left hamstring. Mo Williams shot before Tuesday night's game, a 108-79 loss to the Jazz, but the backup point guard missed his third straight game because of a sore right foot. Brian Cook didn't play in his second straight game because of a sprained ankle, and guard Eric Bledsoe, who hasn't played all season (right knee surgery), hopes to be ready to play in about two weeks. Del Negro said Paul has to get some strength back in his hamstring."
Chris Paul's MRI exam on hamstring is negative, Clippers say
January 16
Los Angeles Times
 
"Chris Paul had an MRI exam Sunday on his strained left hamstring that was negative, the Clippers announced. The team also said that Paul will be listed as day to day, but that the 6-foot All-Star guard is questionable for Monday's game against the New Jersey Nets at Staples Center. Paul was injured late in the fourth quarter in the Clippers' victory over the Lakers on Saturday night at Staples Center. If Paul doesn't play, Chauncey Billups probably will start at point guard and Randy Foye will move from the bench into the starting shooting guard role."
Clippers greet a new day in L.A.
January 15
Los Angeles Times
 
"On this Saturday night, the city of Los Angeles belonged to the Clippers and not the Lakers. And the brand new guard in L.A., the Clippers' Chris Paul, was just as masterful as the five-time champion from the Lakers, Kobe Bryant. It was Paul's team that pulled out an impressive 102-94 victory over Bryant's Lakers at Staples Center, in a Clippers home game in the arena both teams share. Paul scored to give the Clippers a 95-82 lead and then limped to the bench with a strained left hamstring with 4:01 left, never to return. But he finished his night with 33 points on 12-for-22 shooting, plus six assists. "I don't know what happened; I thought it was a cramp," Paul said. "I've never had this"
For Clippers' Chris Paul, it's shoe time
January 12
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Chris Erskine
"Chris Paul walks into the party like he is walking onto a yacht. Even at a press event, he arrives with his own microclimate of cool — sans the usual hubris. Needless to say, I see a lot of myself in him. Here are some other things the Clippers' new star and I have in common: • We're both short • Both live in L.A. • Both have a new line of NBA shoe. My new shoe comes with a protractor, hand sanitizer and a little secret chamber for stashing Band-Aids. I make them in my garage using a glue gun and glitter. So far, I have sold one pair, to a dude I met walking barefoot down Colorado Boulevard after the Rose Bowl. I think he was just cold and desperate. Now he is merely cool."
Clippers' Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups could be Olympic candidates
January 9
Los Angeles Times
 
"Is it possible that the Clippers could have three players on the U.S. Olympic basketball team? Well, yes, it's possible that Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Chauncey Billups all could represent the United States in the Olympics in London this summer. Paul said he has been in contact with Jerry Colangelo, director of USA Basketball, and that he hopes to be on the Olympic basketball team for the second time. Griffin said he was told by his agent that Colangelo wanted to speak with him about being a candidate to try out for the team. Griffin said he planned to call Colangelo this week to express his interest."
Paul helps blaze trail for Clippers in 93-88 victory over Portland
January 2
L.A. Daily News
 
"Chris Paul hit an acrobatic 3-pointer after Portland had rallied in the fourth quarter and then made a layup in the final seconds to lead the Clippers to a 93-88 victory over the Trail Blazers on Sunday night at Staples Center, earning their first home win of the season. After Portland (3-1) had cut a 15-point deficit to single digits, Paul made an off-balance 3 from the top of the key as the shot clock expired, which inspired the Clippers (2-2) to tighten their defense and stop Portland's rally. "Great players can not only make not make the shot, but they can make the play," said Clipper head coach Vinny Del Negro about the star point guard's shots. Down the entire game, Portland made its"
Chris Paul shows why he's a superstar
January 2
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Helene Elliot
"This is what superstars do. This was why the Clippers gave up so much to get so much more in Chris Paul. Why Laker fans still lament the NBA's refusal to let Paul be wrapped in purple and gold and dropped at their feet instead of a few feet down the hall at Staples Center. Faced with losing a 17-point lead over Portland on Sunday in a game the Clippers considered a measuring stick of their progress after being spanked by San Antonio and Chicago, Paul simply took over and refused to let them lose. He steadied his teammates' nerves with his poise, elated them with his shotmaking and wowed them with his ability to win a crucial jump ball against a five-inches-taller Jamal Crawford with 4.3"
Trio of Clippers tower over Staples Center
December 30
Los Angeles Times
 
"On just about the entire exterior wall of the Figueroa Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, there is a mural of Blake Griffin next to Chris Paul next to DeAndre Jordan. It looms as a huge backdrop near Staples Center, three Clippers in the town that the Lakers have ruled as the preeminent sports team in Southern California for years. Are the Clippers ready to run with the Lakers in L.A.? The Clipper Nation will get a first look in person when the Clippers play their regular-season home opener against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at Staples Center. But before the fans enter the arena, they can look to the north and see the pictures of the three young players in Clippers uniforms. "Man, it's"
NY Knicks Carmelo Anthony says Chris Paul should be on the LA Lakers not LA Clippers
December 29
New York Daily News
 
"When it came to barring Chris Paul from joining the Lakers, David Stern had it all wrong, says Carmelo Anthony. Unlike the NBA commissioner, who prevented Paul from going to the Lakers in a trade three weeks ago, the Knicks' superstar believes it would have benefited everyone had Paul wound up playing in the same backcourt with Kobe Bryant."
Clippers' Chris Paul feels the love from fans
December 19
Los Angeles Times
 
"The chants of "CP3" rang out as soon as Chris Paul took the microphone before the start of the Clippers' intrasquad scrimmage Sunday at USC's Galen Center. Paul was just acquired from the New Orleans Hornets in a blockbuster trade and already he was feeling the love from the fans. "It was humbling and kind of embarrassing there for a second," Paul said. "But it's all in fun. I'm just excited about what we have here and I'm extremely grateful for the welcome that the fans have given me.""
Chris Paul waits, then finally joins Clippers at practice
December 18
Los Angeles Times
 
"It was superstar, interrupted. Chris Paul couldn't practice with his new team Saturday morning because the trade that brought the point guard from New Orleans to the Clippers had not been finalized, keeping Paul from throwing his first lob to Blake Griffin. "Just watch and wish," Paul said of being on the court with the Clippers. Paul watched his teammates work on plays, took some jump shots and was cleared to participate in evening practice after Chris Kaman passed his physical with the Hornets and the trade was completed. Chauncey Billups was more actively involved in the morning session, directing the offense in full-court, non-contact drills during the veteran point guard's first"
Clippers have a craftsman in Chris Paul
December 18
Los Angeles Times
 
"There are no shortcuts to success for Chris Paul. He takes his job of being a professional basketball player seriously. He works tirelessly at every nuance of the game. He prepares physically and mentally. He is always looking to improve. In essence, Paul is driven. This is what the Clippers can expect out of their newest player. "Everybody has a craft," Paul said. "For me, this is my craft. This is what I love to do. I analyze it and I dissect it to a 'T.' I just pay attention to everything. In any and everything that I do, I want to be the best." Many feel Paul already is one of the best players in the NBA and the best point guard. That's why the Clippers worked so hard to acquire the"
Chris Paul already talking championship
December 16
Los Angeles Times
 
"Chris Paul sat at a table wearing a black suit with a red tie, his eyes bright, a smile on his face, his voice full of hope when he spoke about the future of the Clippers. He mentioned a word that rarely has been uttered around the Clippers franchise — championship. Paul emphasized that point Thursday during his introductory news conference. He had joined the team when the Clippers acquired him from New Orleans on Wednesday for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and the unprotected first-round draft pick they got from the Minnesota Timberwolves."
NY Knicks Carmelo Anthony says he's tired of hearing about Chris Paul saga
December 16
New York Daily News
 
"Carmelo Anthony didn't call David Stern a bully, but he said that the past week must have been difficult for Chris Paul after the NBA, which operates the New Orleans Hornets, initially rejected two trades for the All-Star point guard, one of which would have made him a Laker. "I would feel just like Chris felt," Anthony said Thursday. "I would be disappointed, I'd be frustrated, I'd be upset. But you know Chris got what he wanted. It went through. No more David Stern talk from nobody. Not from me, not from Chris and I hope from nobody else. I'm tired of talking about it. I'm tired of hearing about it and everybody just focus on basketball.""
Chris Paul trade stained NBA's credibility
December 15
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Adrian Wojnarowski
"The coincidence was uncanny: Blind bidding on the amnesty waiver wire, several teams with a chance to claim Chauncey Billups, and somehow the Los Angeles Clippers made the highest offer. All these years owner Donald Sterling was the bane of the commissioner's existence, and now David Stern needed him in the worst way. All the times Stern let the creep slide on professional and personal indiscretions, the NBA knew the Clippers were the final, most legitimate suitor still standing to bail the league out of its own self-created Chris Paul debacle. So, yes, the Clippers bid just north of $2 million on Billups, and the NBA has left everyone justified to wonder about the purity of that process."
David Stern says deal with Los Angeles Clippers is better for the New Orleans Hornets
December 15
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"Chris Paul is going to Los Angeles after all. The Paul era in New Orleans ended Wednesday evening when the New Orleans Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers agreed to terms on a blockbuster trade for the four-time All-Star. The Hornets acquired shooting guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and a 2012 first-round pick for Paul. In addition, the Clippers will receive two 2015 second-round picks from the Hornets."
New Orleans Hornets finally ship Chris Paul to Los Angeles Clippers
December 15
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"The Paul era in New Orleans ended Wednesday evening when the Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers agreed to terms on a blockbuster trade for the four-time All-Star. The Hornets acquired shooting guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and a 2012 first-round pick for Paul. In addition, the Clippers will receive two 2015 second-round picks from the Hornets. NBA Commissioner David Stern, who nixed two earlier trades with the Lakers and Clippers involving Paul, signed off on the deal. Stern reportedly wanted a deal that provided young players for the NBA-owned franchise to build around."
Clippers shed bumbling label by landing Chris Paul
December 15
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Bill Dwyre
"All right, NBA. What have you done with Donald Sterling? As Los Angeles sports fans, we have a right to the security and comfort of the known. Death, taxes and Clippers incompetence are the axioms by which we live. Pretty soon, somebody will tell us that the Angels have Albert Pujols and the Dodgers' most important player is a hard-hitting bankruptcy judge. Nah, couldn't happen. The Clippers have completed a deal that brings Chris Paul into their backcourt. This guy isn't just a point guard. He is point perfect. The position was invented for him. There was some guy named Cousy and now CP3. Even his nickname is cool. It sounds like something out of "Star Wars," and the Clippers' action this"
Lakers upset with Chris Paul's trade to Clippers
December 15
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers were hit with a two-by-four of bad news Wednesday, Chris Paul heading to the Clippers and Dwight Howard heading nowhere. The Lakers were privately fuming Wednesday, according to a person with knowledge of their front office, when Paul, the New Orleans point guard, ended up in Los Angeles six days after the NBA vetoed the Lakers' trade for him. Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak declined to comment through a spokesman but earlier this week said the NBA's blockade was "completely unexpected." "We did the best we can to express our displeasure," Kupchak said Monday."
Chris Paul deal could be a turning point for Clippers
December 15
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Clippers pulled off the biggest trade in franchise history, acquiring New Orleans Hornets four-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul in a blockbuster deal that took many twists and turns before coming to fruition Wednesday. The Clippers sent guard Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and his expiring $12.7-million contract to the Hornets, along with second-year forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the 2012 unprotected first-round draft pick the Clippers acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2005. The Clippers also get two 2015 second-round draft picks from the Hornets."
Chris Paul trade impacts West power grid, sets up classic clash
December 15
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Eddie Sefco
"News of Chris Paul's departure from New Orleans and his landing with the Los Angeles Clippers is going to have a big impact on the Western Conference. The Clippers, longtime laughingstocks who finally got something right with Blake Griffin, will instantly become trendy picks to contend for the West when preseason predictions start coming out next week. And they will be good. They will have two of the top half-dozen players in the Western Conference. But are they better than Oklahoma City ? Better than the crosstown Lakers? Better than the Mavericks or San Antonio Spurs?"
Clippers acquire Chris Paul, send Eric Gordon to New Orleans
December 15
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Clippers have agreed to acquire All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets in a blockbuster deal that includes sending Eric Gordon to the Hornets, two people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak on the matter said Wednesday. The Clippers will send the Hornets Chris Kaman and his expiring $12.7-million expiring contract, second-year forward Al-Farouq Aminu and the unprotected No. 1 draft pick the Clippers got from the Minnesota Timberwolves, both people said. The Clippers will get Paul and two future second-round draft picks from the Hornets."
Source: CP3-To-Clips Hung Up In Standoff
December 14
NBA.com
 
"The New Orleans Hornets continue to ask for guard Eric Gordon and the unprotected first-round Draft pick originally from the Timberwolves as the central assets in a potential deal with the Clippers for Chris Paul, a league source told TNT's David Aldridge Wednesday morning. But the Clippers remain adamant that the Hornets cannot have both Gordon and the pick and must choose between the two. The standoff is the major impediment in a possible trade between the two teams. While the Hornets are having discussions with other teams about their four-time All-Star guard, including the Lakers, the Clippers' group of assets remains the most desirable and the one that New Orleans wants. The"
Wizards' Roger Mason Jr. feels 'horrible' for Chris Paul
December 14
Washington Post
 
"The NBA, which owns the New Orleans Hornets, has rejected three offers in the past five days that would've sent all-star point guard Chris Paul to Los Angeles. NBA Commissioner David Stern shot down the Lakers' first attempt last Thursday, nixing a three-team deal that would brought Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Lamar Odom to New Orleans and Pau Gasol to Houston. Stern then shot down another deal that added subtle changes to the package. When those talks collapsed, the Lakers backed out and sent Odom, disgruntled and hurt after being put on the trading block, to Dallas for a trade exception and a pick. The Clippers then got involved, hoping to pair Paul with dunking machine Blake Griffin."
NBA takes over trade negotiations for Chris Paul and resumes talks with Clippers and Lakers
December 14
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"Desperate to end the trade uncertainty surrounding Chris Paul, the NBA has taken over trade negotiations and has re-engaged in talks with both the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, sources confirmed Tuesday night. The NBA, who owns the Hornets, is no longer pushing to obtain guard Eric Gordon in talks with the Clippers. A proposed trade that would have had Paul going to the Clippers in exchange for guard Eric Bledsoe, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, center Chris Kaman and a first-round draft pick fell through Monday."
Sources: Chris Paul talks continue
December 14
ESPN.com
 
"League officials representing the New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers continued discussions into Tuesday night on a trade that would put Chris Paul on the same team with Blake Griffin, according to sources briefed on the talks. But the sides have yet to find a framework that satisfies both, sources said, with the NBA not relenting on its desire to acquire the Clippers' top five available trade assets in return for Paul, who would invoke the 2012-13 option in his contract as part of any trade between the teams to ensure the Clippers would have him for at least two seasons. "They're still asking for everyone," said one source with knowledge of the Clippers' thinking."
Source: Clips 'Move On' From CP3 Talks
December 13
NBA.com
 
"While the New Orleans Hornets hope to revive trade talks involving four-time All-Star Chris Paul with the Los Angeles Clippers, a league source tells TNT's David Aldridge that the Clippers have "moved on" and are not, at the moment, interested in restarting the discussions. Sources late Monday night indicated that the Hornets — whose negotiations for Paul are being handled by the NBA, which owns the team — believed there was still a chance that they could find common ground with the Clippers on a deal. But a source directly involved in the negotiations said early Tuesday morning that it was doubtful the Hornets would compromise enough for Los Angeles to be interested. "I don't know that"
Clips hesitant about package for Paul
December 13
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Despite expressed interest from the NBA in reviving talks, the Los Angeles Clippers are still reticent about completing a trade for Chris Paul that would cost them too many of their preferred assets, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. One source involved in the talks characterized the negotiations late Monday as "dead for now." The Clippers backed out of a possible deal with the New Orleans Hornets earlier Monday because they considered the demands of NBA officials – who are presiding over the Hornets' trade talks – too steep. Given permission by the Hornets to speak with Paul, Clippers officials had a recent phone conversation with the All-Star point guard in which he expressed excitement"
Sources: Officials push to renew Paul talks
December 13
ESPN.com
 
"There is renewed momentum to push through a trade that would send Chris Paul from the league-owned New Orleans Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers, according to sources close to the process. After a seemingly imminent trade routing Paul to the Clippers collapsed earlier Monday, sources told ESPN.com that the league officials negotiating on the Hornets' behalf had aggressively re-engaged the Clippers in talks in hopes of completing a deal as soon as Tuesday. One source close to the process also told ESPN that league officials also definitely did not see talks with the Clippers as "over," since they rank as the Hornets' most natural trade partner given L.A.'s trade assets and how it ranks as"
Clippers back off Chris Paul trade, win rights to Chauncey Billups
December 13
Los Angeles Times
 
"The first big news the Clippers made Monday was when they pulled out of a proposed deal to acquire All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets. Then in the afternoon the Clippers won the waiver auction to get veteran point guard Chauncey Billups, and re-signed center DeAndre Jordan by matching the Golden State Warriors' four-year, $43.2-million contract offer. "I don't know if there's anybody on the planet that doesn't think they would need Chris Paul if they had an opportunity to acquire him," said Neil Olshey, the Clippers' vice president of basketball operations, who, along with Coach Vinny Del Negro and team President Andy Roeser, had been working on all three deals"
Chris Paul trade to the Los Angeles Clippers falls through
December 12
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"For the third time in five days, another trade deal involving New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul collapsed, sources confirmed Monday. A proposed deal Monday that had Paul going to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Eric Bledsoe, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman and an a first-round pick fell through. The Clippers backed out of the deal because the league wanted guard Eric Gordon included in the trade package, along with the first-round pick, sources confirmed. The Clippers were only willing to part ways with Gordon if they could keep the first-round pick."
Sources: Clippers' deal for Chris Paul off
December 12
ESPN.com
 
"A seemingly imminent Chris Paul trade has collapsed for the second time in five days. Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that the league-owned New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers could not complete their proposed Paul trade because the Clippers ultimately decided the NBA's asking price for the All-Star guard was too high. On Thursday, NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed a three-team trade agreement struck by the Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets to send Paul to the Lakers. At the NBA's direction, sources said, New Orleans was insisting upon the inclusion of both shooting guard Eric Gordon and Minnesota's unprotected 2012 first-round draft choice in"
Hornets' trade of Paul to Clippers is off
December 12
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Los Angeles Clippers rejected NBA commissioner David Stern's steep demands to complete a trade for New Orleans Hornets All-Star guard Chris Paul, and talks of a blockbuster deal perished on Monday afternoon, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Sources didn't preclude the talks from re-starting again, but the Clippers weren't willing to meet the the NBA and Hornets demands for Paul, sources said."
Source: Clippers seek Chris Paul deal
December 12
ESPN.com
 
"The New Orleans Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers submitted a multiplayer blockbuster deal to the NBA on Sunday that would send All-Star point guard Chris Paul to Los Angeles, a source with knowledge of the discussions said Monday. But the trade as submitted has one hitch: The league, which owns the Hornets, wanted Eric Bledsoe, while the Clippers want to keep their point guard, the source said. The deal would be done if the league hadn't asked for Bledsoe, according to the source. The trade as submitted would cost the Clippers guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman and forward Al-Farouq Aminu. It would also include Minnesota's first-round draft pick in 2012."
Clippers are close to deal for Chris Paul with Hornets
December 12
Los Angeles Times
 
"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."
Sources: Lakers out of Chris Paul talks
December 11
ESPN.com
 
"The Los Angeles Lakers abruptly withdrew from the Chris Paul sweepstakes Saturday night after more than 24 hours of unsuccessful attempts to restructure a three-team deal with the New Orleans Hornets and Houston Rockets that would meet with the approval of NBA commissioner David Stern, according to sources close to the process. The Lakers informed the league-owned Hornets and the Rockets they were pulling out of the stonewalled deal, sources said, and instead trading Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas is able to accommodate Odom's $8.9 million salary without surrendering any prized assets thanks to a new trade exception created through the Mavericks' three-team deal with New York"