While I’m well aware a tandem of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin makes the Clippers far more legit than they’ve been anytime since Larry Brown was getting ready for his next gig coaching the club, ’tis difficult to envision Paul falling in love with the management style of the only owner who’d make George Shin look classy. For the next two seasons, however, the Clips are arguably no longer 2nd class citizens in their own building, as the LA Times’ Broderick Turner explains ;
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.
The NBA, which operates the Hornets as team owner, was prepared to approve the deal Wednesday night, both people said.
The Clippers had been granted permission to talk Paul, and he informed them that he would pick up his option of $17.7 million for the 2012-13 season and might be interested in signing a contract extension after the trade, both people said.
One unintended byproduct of the blockbuster (aside from, y’know, thoroughly reasoned analysis that suggests Paul is no longer one of the game’s top 3 players) ; a Season 3 “Treme’ cameo for Kamen, who can play the part of Steve Zahn’s new menacing neighbor that doesn’t appreciate Sunday morning rehearsals for some dubious new musical hybrid.