Clippers: Ways To Beat Warriors Ep. 3 – What happens to Chris Paul?

To continue his short series, Ways To Beat Warriors, Tim Hiley considers another fun hypothetical trade if Chris Paul decides he wants to leave the Los Angeles Clippers.

This would be an absolute last resort for me, and should only happen if Chris Paul goes to Doc Rivers and tells him he’s leaving the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017 free agency. Perhaps, if he believes another failure in the playoffs will bring his time in L.A. to an end, Doc will consider a reluctant trade as a final option. If Paul might leave, there’s reasoning to get something back for him and consider a trade, and preferably a player in a similar mould to Paul.

The reason I think the Washington Wizards would make such an interesting trade partner for the Clippers is because for the last two seasons they have put their heart and sole into the hopeful homecoming of Kevin Durant.

Instead, now that everyone except for the Golden State Warriors can fear Durant’s decision, the Wizards never even got a meeting. Their squad as presently constructed is not a playoff caliber roster, so there was nothing to convince Durant that with his presence they would contend for a championship.

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While Paul is getting towards the end of his prime and will soon be on the decline, he’s still the best pure point guard in the league and would serve as an immediate upgrade if traded for John Wall along with Otto Porter. Paul would elevate the Wizards back into the playoff hunt in a weaker Eastern Conference, finally giving himself a chance to make the Conference Finals.

This leads to the main reason I think Washington may consider this, as Durant will again be a free agent at the end of this season and while he has said he wants to stay long term, he said the same thing about Oklahoma, and he didn’t sign a long term deal, but instead a two year deal with a player option after one.

It is clear after this summer that Kevin Durant was tempted with the idea of playing with Chris Paul and, had the Wizards been competing in April and May, the idea of going home to Washington may have appealed to him. So combine the two together, and you may have enough to tempt Durant to the nation’s capital.

On the other hand, of course, CP3 and playing at home may not intrigue Durant at all once he gets a taste of glorious winning in Golden State. They certainly offer him a far better chance of winning than the Wizards.

Even still, acquiring Paul would help a surge to return to the playoffs if that’s the Wizards’ immediate aim. It depends on whether or not they realize the limitations of this team and intend to be patient for a chance to contend.

But why would the Clippers do this? I, personally, love watching the Point God play in Clipper colours and it is my hope that he ends his career with the Clippers, watching his jersey go up into the rafters with, I hope, a championship banner or two.

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But, should he make it clear he wants to leave, getting a younger, more athletic floor general in John Wall, who averaged 19.9 points and 10.2 assists per game last season, would be a great deal for the Clippers, providing a core to build around for years to come, while not dropping off too much competitively.

Of course, at the same time, the Wizards need to know if Paul is willing to re-sign with them next summer before sacrificing Wall and the remaining three years on his contract at a good price.

The addition of Otto Porter would certainly help the Clippers remain competitive as a new starting small forward with great length and gradual improvement as a new 3-and-D option.

I don’t like the thought of trading Chris Paul and there’s no guaranteeing that the Wizards would want to part with their own best player in an All-Star point guard like Wall anyway. But if the Clippers decided to get something in return for Paul, this would be the best trade possible, in my eyes, for all parties.

Next: What can we expect from Brice Johnson next season?

Ultimately, though, it’s the Clippers’ obvious priority to retain Paul next summer and continue with him. Trading for Wall doesn’t do them any favors in surpassing the Warriors either (as no trade truly can). While some basketball fans may argue moving on could be the best idea as Paul approaches the end of his prime, it really is not the answer. Check back in episode 4 for another theory.