I already wrote a Los Angeles Clippers preview for the upcoming season, but a
new one is certainly needed now that L.A. added arguably the NBA’s best point
guard – well, at least the best in the Western Conference – in Chris
Paul.
The Clippers and New Orleans Hornets finalized their
long-rumored deal on Wednesday, with L.A. giving up a lot for Paul: star
shooting guard Eric Gordon, center Chris
Kaman, young forward Al-Farouq Aminu and Minnesota's
unprotected 2012 first-round pick to the Hornets for Paul. The Clippers will
also receive two future second-round picks.
The only big loss there is
Gordon, who averaged 22.3 points last year. He was the one player L.A. was
reluctant to put in the trade and why it was called off earlier this week. Kaman
was a goner after this season as he has been replaced in the middle by
DeAndre Jordan, and Aminu would have been a role player at best
because the team signed Caron Butler to play small forward.
It’s likely that the Clips slide recently added Chauncey
Billups, normally a point guard, over to shooting guard in the interim,
although it’s certainly possible another move could be coming (trading backup
point guard Mo Williams). Randy Foye also will
play shooting guard.
The Clippers could be arguably the most exciting
team in the NBA this season with Paul throwing alley-oops to Blake
Griffin and Jordan. Paul, 26, due to earn $16.3 million this season,
informed the Clippers that he will pick up his option for the 2012-13 season at
$17.7 million. The hope inside the Clippers' front office is that Paul will want
to sign a long-term extension after playing alongside
Griffin.
Ironically, the Clippers play their two preseason games – with
the opener Monday – against the Lakers, the team that originally had traded for
Paul before the NBA voided the deal.
Does this trade make the Clips
better than the Lakers this season? Probably not, but the Clippers’ odds to win
the NBA title skyrocketed from 50/1 to 15/1 on Bovada’s NBA futures odds. Certainly it looks as if the
Clippers are a playoff team now.
Back in Business: Bet on the 2012 NBA season with
Bovada
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