The LA Clippers will face a lot of questions in 2017 NBA free agency, but they’re reportedly expecting Chris Paul to demand a max contract so he can stay put.
The LA Clippers are riding a three-game losing streak, giving them their first back-to-back losses of the season, and are facing questions already from frustrated fans and puzzled critics. With losses to the Reggie Jackson-less Detroit Pistons, Paul George-less Indiana Pacers, and the Brooklyn Nets (albeit without Blake Griffin, but they’re still the Nets), the Clippers are facing their own challenges to steer the ship back on track and find the intensity that locked them into the NBA’s best record over the first few weeks of the season.
Beyond this year, though, the Clippers face other questions. Specifically, the future of their Big 3 and what lies ahead for their saviour at point guard, Chris Paul.
In his new, terrific piece on the Clippers’ season so far and upcoming challenges against the Golden State Warriors (should they meet in the playoffs) and free agency, ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported that the team are expecting Paul to demand a five-year max to stay put:
"Steve Ballmer, L.A.’s moneybags owner, has already said he’ll pay the cost. Maxing out Griffin is a no-brainer, and the team expects Paul to demand the full five-year max (or whatever the longest possible deal ends up being in the revised collective bargaining agreement) to stick around, per several league sources. That would take him well past age 35. Gulp."
We’ve heard reports for some time that Griffin would like to re-sign with the Clippers to stay in L.A., given his importance to the team and all his entertainment and comedy ventures off the court.
As for Paul, we’ve been a little less certain, seeing as he’ll obviously command max salary and will have more than his fair share of interest as the best two-way point guard in the NBA once he hits the market, assuming that he opts out with his player option. Plus, even though he’ll be different at his mid thirties, he’s looked excellent to start 2016-17.
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With all that likely interest and the chance to try something new to contend elsewhere if the Clippers once again come up short in the playoffs this season, Paul may think about leaving. At least, that would be perfectly understandable. And as Lowe pointed out, he’ll be well past 35 by the end of his next big contract, surely making it the last max of his career, not to mention a big commitment for a team to take him on through that age.
However, given the excellent credibility of Lowe, it sounds like Paul settling where he is with everything Los Angeles and the Clippers have to offer him is something we may be able to anticipate.
The team expecting Paul to demand a max contract so he can stay with them is a completely different term to report than the blasé “Paul has some interest in staying.” Several sources rather than one telling this to Lowe also makes it more credible, and we know how eager Ballmer is to keep CP3.
Next: Can Paul or Griffin win MVP this season?
Of course, something may change between now and next summer, but the question of “are they running it back again?” could be asked next year if the LA Clippers re-sign Chris Paul as Lowe reports.