A bold trade for New Orleans' superstar point guard on Wednesday just could alter the entire sports world's perception of the Clippers. After managing just six winning seasons in their 1st 41 years of existence, the bumbling Clippers all of a sudden appear slick and scintillating right after swinging arguably the largest trade in franchise historical past, providing them two on the NBA's elite players in addition to a capable supporting cast.
Outfoxing the Lakers and thrilling their long-suffering fans, Los Angeles on Wednesday traded high-scoring guard Eric Gordon, former All-Star center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu as well as a first-round draft selection acquired from Minnesota for Paul, the four-time All-Star extensively regarded to be the NBA's very best point guard.
"We determined for any player of Chris' caliber that it was just time for you to make the move and push all our chips to the center in the table," Clippers vice president of basketball operations Neil Olshey told the team's internet site. "We're actually satisfied about it. Chris is the form of player that can make everyone close to him greater. He's a basic. He wins. He's a warrior, and he's going to take this entire organization to the subsequent level."
Even the Clippers themselves had problems believing what their front office had just performed while in the moments just after the trade was announced. Many of the players - such as the ones who have been traded - have been on a vacation bus ride with season-ticket holders when their phones blew up using the news.
Griffin's reaction was captured by television cameras soon after he chest-bumped center DeAndre Jordan: "Lob city!"
It is currently a T-shirt in Los Angeles, and it should be a way of existence once the playmaking Paul and also the high-flying NBA Rookie from the Year get with each other.
Even though armchair analysts debate who won the trade and wonder no matter if the club can preserve its newfound assets for your long lasting, it really is clear that suddenly the Clippers do not seem to be the modern-day archetype for sports ineptitude.
Certain, Los Angeles has missed the playoffs 13 occasions within the last 14 seasons, going 32-50 last spring while in the Clippers' 18th non-winning season previously 19 years. The former Buffalo Braves have won just one playoff series considering the fact that 1976.
And positive, the Clippers are nonetheless owned by Donald Sterling, the much-criticized genuine estate magnate who at times heckles his own players from his center-court seat. But the Clippers happen to be gathering momentum considering that Olshey replaced Mike Dunleavy in March 2010, patiently stockpiling excellent players all-around 2009 top select Griffin whilst generating runs at cost-free agents such as LeBron James, who gave them a courtesy meeting last summer in advance of heading to Miami.
When Paul produced it clear he wouldn't sign a contract extension together with the Hornets and was enthusiastic about playing in Los Angeles, the Clippers watched while the Lakers' three-team trade for Paul was blocked from the NBA last week - and then they pounced, offering a deal that not even Commissioner David Stern could reject.
"It was a pivotal second for us," Olshey stated. "It took a long time to accumulate the assets to get a deal like this."
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