Clipperholics
Fansided

Speculation: Should the Clippers move on from Chris Paul?

By Taylor Buckley

Mar 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin and guard Chris Paul watch on the bench in the final minute during a NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 122-103. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin and guard Chris Paul watch on the bench in the final minute during a NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 122-103. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Mar 3, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; LA Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) tries to calm guard Chris Paul (3) after Paul receives a technical foul in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; LA Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) tries to calm guard Chris Paul (3) after Paul receives a technical foul in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Money.

The Clippers are in the same boat this summer that they were in the last; they have no real cap space. The Clippers have the ability to re-sign J.J. Redick via his bird rights, which means they can go over the cap to re-sign him since he has been with their team for at least three seasons. Same goes for both Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, should they opt-out as expected.

Blake is young still, 27 to be exact, so a long term contract is a no-brainer. Even at 32, J.J. is an incredible shooter. Plus, he won’t be as expensive as Chris Paul would be. If Chris Paul re-signed, it would be on a max contract. That’s a lot of money to put into a player who will be making 20+ million a year when he is 37. That’s crazy.

REPORT: J.J. Redick has committed to re-signing with Clippers

While re-signing Paul may not hurt the Clippers right away, it will be catastrophic in a few years. If I were the Clippers, I would cut my losses so I could have financial freedom in the years to come.

If the Clippers re-signed just J.J. and Blake they would have virtually no cap room to sign a legit starting point guard, or any real difference maker for matter. That’s where my third point comes in.

Home/Clippers News