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Blow it Up: Chris Paul May Not Give the LA Clippers a Choice

By Benjamin Criswell

May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) guards Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) in the first half of game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) guards Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) in the first half of game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 24, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Risky Business

With the futures of Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, and Patty Mills in question, CP3 would be the perfect fit and Paul seems poised to exercise his early termination option. Signing with the Spurs, Paul would leave almost 50 million dollars on the table in Los Angeles (don’t forget: he negotiated the CBA for just this deal).

There is risk in both staying and leaving. If Paul decides to sign with San Antonio, the Spurs would have to bring back Ginobli, Parker, Mills and Simmons, or risk not having a bench. The attraction of San Antonio (aside from playing with Kawhi) is that the Spurs win games with their bench allowing their stars to rest during the regular season.

The risk in staying with the LA Clippers is that Paul is banking on a team plagued by injuries to remain healthy the entire season. Paul and Blake Griffin missed 21 games each this season and finished four games of the 3-seed., and Griffin missed the final four games of the Utah series due to a toe injury.

Paul might wait to see what moves the Clippers make this summer, as the bench is due for a major overhaul with departures imminent from J.J. Redick, Mo Speights, Luc Mbah a Moute and Raymond Felton. The Clippers were going to have to make a splash this offseason regardless of whether CP leaves or not. The problem with that is the Clippers have very few assets to play with.

RELATED STORY: Luc Mbah a Moute expected to opt out

There have been reports that the Knicks could be interested in a sign-and-trade with J.J. Redick for Carmelo Anthony. The deal seems like a long-shot.

Cleveland has also expressed interest in Jamal Crawford. Crawford is under contract through 2019 and would have to bring an immediate return forcing the Cavs to give up at least one crucial piece to their championship runs.
However, is waiting to see if the Clippers can pull anything off the best thing for Chris Paul to do?

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