Calling it Now. CP3 will be a Celt this year. My Gut Feeling. Here's why!

[Kane3387]

Rondo rings - 1   CP3 Rings- 0



So the hornets wont trade Paul to the Knicks...He'll just wait a year and sign with them next season.

http://www.redsarmy.com/home/2011/12/report-chris-paul-requests-trade-to-ny.html

I don't care how rich someone already is. You don't turn down 46 million dollars.

[Celtics18]

I just want to go on record as saying that I don't want to see Rajon Rondo traded, not for anybody in the league; that includes Chris Paul.

I disagree with the basic premise that Chris Paul instead of Rajon Rondo gives us a better shot at a title this year.  If we get a healthy Rondo to start the season, then I think we'll see a continuation of the development of the guy who we saw lead our team to within a couple of minutes of an NBA title in a seventh game of the 2010 season.  Remember that Rondo was never healthy last season.  This includes early in the season when he was leading the league in assists by a large margin and being mentioned in MVP talks.  He struggled with plantar fasciitis from training camp on.  

I believe that this, more than anything else, contributed to his struggles during the back end of a long NBA season.  

I think he'll be healthy to start this season, and if he stays that way throughout, could be a top 10-15 player in the league.  

I love the way he plays and want nothing more than to see the four guys who remain from our championship squad kept together for one more run at it.

The rumors of the demise of the Boston Celtics have been greatly exaggerated.  

 

[Evantime34]

When the trade was first mentioned I really wanted to see Cp3 on the Celtics. However, the more I think about it the more I think that he would walk the next year and we would be left with a non existant nucleus for the future, unless we have one of the greatest drafts in Celtic's history.

I think he ends up getting taded to the Clippers who are able to keep his services.

[ManUp]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

As heitingas pointed out, I think the Clippers might be willing to risk it, since they have the allure of playing with Blake Griffin in a large market that certainly rivals NYC -- and procuring a big time player like Paul or Howard via trade is probably the only way they can be sure of retaining Blake Griffin beyond his rookie contact.

I'm not certain if the Clippers would have the cap space to sign Dwight Howard next summer if they also signed CP3, though.  

I can't see the Clippers moving DeAndre Jordan and Eric Gordon if they don't know for sure that CP3 is staying. Griffin alone might not be enough to keep Paul. Yet the potential development of Eric Gordon, Eric Bledsoe, Deandre Jordan and Aminu might be enough to keep Blake (also a restricted free agent that they will match) around once his rookie deal is up.

Since they can probably clear some space (amnesty Mo William) to sign Howard via free agency after acquiring Paul I can't see why they wouldn't take a risk on a cp3 rental.I'd imagine selling Howard on the idea of teaming up with Griffin and Paul wouldn't be to hard afterwards.

[bdm860]

I don’t understand the Clippers thing at all.

How could anyone want to play for that owner?

You need stars, but you need so many other little pieces to win too. 

I don’t see Clippers using the mid-level every year like the C’s have to bring in solid veteran. 

I don’t see the Clippers taking on non-max big salary guys in trades like teams like the Lakers, Knicks, and Mavs continually do, or Cleveland did when they were trying to please LeBron.

I don’t see the Clippers paying to get/keep a big time successful coach that may be needed to work with big time personalities on the team. 

I don’t see the Clippers paying money to get top notch assistants.

I don’t see the Clippers paying money to have top notch scouting, trainers, etc. 

All this stuff matters.

30 teams to choose from and these black players would really pick the only owner that has had to battle multiple lawsuits claiming racism?  I remember all the talk about NFL guys not wanting to play for Rush Limbaugh when he was possibly buying a team, so why are guys lining up to play for Sterling?

These players all saying they want to win, yet the Clippers have only had 3 winning seasons ever in 33 seasons.  The best 3 year stretch in team history the team won 40, 47, and 37 games, the best 3 year stretch features two losing seasons, the best season the team ever had is sandwiched in between 2 losing seasons!  And these players want to go to the Clippers looking to continually win?


The only positive is you have a desirable city, but no matter what you’ll be 2nd fiddle basketball in that city.  Even if the Clippers had Griffin, Paul, and Howard all healthy, a few years from now when the Lakers have pretty much been dismantled and Kobe’s retired, I STILL don’t see the Clippers being anywhere close to the draw of the Lakers.  Especially with the Lakers still a top destination for the best free agents.

Why would players really want to go to the Clippers when so many other teams are courting you too?

[LiamB]

I don't think so.
Chris Paul has his heart set on NY. I think he even if we offered him Howard and a max contract he'd wouldn't sign an extension.

[boom]

I don’t understand the Clippers thing at all.

How could anyone want to play for that owner?

You need stars, but you need so many other little pieces to win too. 

I don’t see Clippers using the mid-level every year like the C’s have to bring in solid veteran. 

I don’t see the Clippers taking on non-max big salary guys in trades like teams like the Lakers, Knicks, and Mavs continually do, or Cleveland did when they were trying to please LeBron.

I don’t see the Clippers paying to get/keep a big time successful coach that may be needed to work with big time personalities on the team. 

I don’t see the Clippers paying money to get top notch assistants.

I don’t see the Clippers paying money to have top notch scouting, trainers, etc. 

All this stuff matters.

30 teams to choose from and these black players would really pick the only owner that has had to battle multiple lawsuits claiming racism?  I remember all the talk about NFL guys not wanting to play for Rush Limbaugh when he was possibly buying a team, so why are guys lining up to play for Sterling?

These players all saying they want to win, yet the Clippers have only had 3 winning seasons ever in 33 seasons.  The best 3 year stretch in team history the team won 40, 47, and 37 games, the best 3 year stretch features two losing seasons, the best season the team ever had is sandwiched in between 2 losing seasons!  And these players want to go to the Clippers looking to continually win?


The only positive is you have a desirable city, but no matter what you’ll be 2nd fiddle basketball in that city.  Even if the Clippers had Griffin, Paul, and Howard all healthy, a few years from now when the Lakers have pretty much been dismantled and Kobe’s retired, I STILL don’t see the Clippers being anywhere close to the draw of the Lakers.  Especially with the Lakers still a top destination for the best free agents.

Why would players really want to go to the Clippers when so many other teams are courting you too?

A couple things.

First, most people dont really care about racism if someone is paying you MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of dollars. Unless he goes on TV spouting hatefilled bigotry, I dont think anyone is going to care. If you knew you boss was a closet racist, yet you were making 20 million a year and didn't have to hear it or see it, I think most people would turn a blind eye (as long as it wasn't absurd or violent. shoot, you know what I mean). I'm not saying it right or wrong, it's just how the world is.

Second, why would the Lakers be a draw without Kobe? To play alongside Gasol, who will probably be broken down or retired soon? Blake Griffin is a one man army. People come to see him play, just like they use to with Lebron. He's unique, and people love to watch him. If you have him, CP3, and DH12 in the lineup how is that not a sold-out arena every single night of the year?

The would OWN LA.

I think that Sterling loves money more than anything, and seeing the return he's getting with Blake, he can only dream bigger with CP3 and DH12.

Just my hunch. Hopefully I'm wrong though. Actually, good riddance, get them out of the East.

[bdm860]

I don’t understand the Clippers thing at all.

How could anyone want to play for that owner?

You need stars, but you need so many other little pieces to win too. 

I don’t see Clippers using the mid-level every year like the C’s have to bring in solid veteran. 

I don’t see the Clippers taking on non-max big salary guys in trades like teams like the Lakers, Knicks, and Mavs continually do, or Cleveland did when they were trying to please LeBron.

I don’t see the Clippers paying to get/keep a big time successful coach that may be needed to work with big time personalities on the team. 

I don’t see the Clippers paying money to get top notch assistants.

I don’t see the Clippers paying money to have top notch scouting, trainers, etc. 

All this stuff matters.

30 teams to choose from and these black players would really pick the only owner that has had to battle multiple lawsuits claiming racism?  I remember all the talk about NFL guys not wanting to play for Rush Limbaugh when he was possibly buying a team, so why are guys lining up to play for Sterling?

These players all saying they want to win, yet the Clippers have only had 3 winning seasons ever in 33 seasons.  The best 3 year stretch in team history the team won 40, 47, and 37 games, the best 3 year stretch features two losing seasons, the best season the team ever had is sandwiched in between 2 losing seasons!  And these players want to go to the Clippers looking to continually win?


The only positive is you have a desirable city, but no matter what you’ll be 2nd fiddle basketball in that city.  Even if the Clippers had Griffin, Paul, and Howard all healthy, a few years from now when the Lakers have pretty much been dismantled and Kobe’s retired, I STILL don’t see the Clippers being anywhere close to the draw of the Lakers.  Especially with the Lakers still a top destination for the best free agents.

Why would players really want to go to the Clippers when so many other teams are courting you too?

A couple things.

First, most people dont really care about racism if someone is paying you MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of dollars. Unless he goes on TV spouting hatefilled bigotry, I dont think anyone is going to care. If you knew you boss was a closet racist, yet you were making 20 million a year and didn't have to hear it or see it, I think most people would turn a blind eye (as long as it wasn't absurd or violent. shoot, you know what I mean). I'm not saying it right or wrong, it's just how the world is.

Second, why would the Lakers be a draw without Kobe? To play alongside Gasol, who will probably be broken down or retired soon? Blake Griffin is a one man army. People come to see him play, just like they use to with Lebron. He's unique, and people love to watch him. If you have him, CP3, and DH12 in the lineup how is that not a sold-out arena every single night of the year?

The would OWN LA.

I think that Sterling loves money more than anything, and seeing the return he's getting with Blake, he can only dream bigger with CP3 and DH12.

Just my hunch. Hopefully I'm wrong though. Actually, good riddance, get them out of the East.

Disagree with you the counter points you raise.

You don’t think players care about work environment?  You don’t think the owner ever deals with or communicates with the players?  You know Donald Sterling was heckling his own players from the sidelines last year?  If you could take millions of millions of dollars from a guy who discriminates against your race and is known as one of the biggest (if not the biggest) jerk of an owner in professional sports, or take the same millions of millions of dollars from a nice guy (or at least not a racist, jerk), you would choose the racist jerk?  Really?   (But hey maybe I’m wrong here, as I guess players do want to play for the Clippers, but that’s why I don’t get it).

Why would the Lakers be a draw without Kobe?  Do you notice that just about every player in the league lists the Lakers as the top of their wish list of teams to play for?  Do you think that’s magically going to stop when Kobe retires?  You don’t think the Lakers will quickly and easily reload?  For the 2 years after Magic retired, the Clippers had a better record, better young players, and more playoff success (2 playoff appearances for the Clips vs one for the Lakers), yet the Lakers still outdrew the Clippers.  For the 2 years after Shaq left, again the Clippers had the better record both years, exciting young players, and more playoff success, and yet the Lakers still outdrew the Clippers.  Since 1976, the Lakers have never missed the playoffs 2 consecutive seasons, actually they’ve only missed the playoffs  twice in the last 35 seasons combined!  So yes I don’t think the Lakers will suddenly fall off a cliff and fail to attract the major free agents.  And yes I think they will continue to outdraw the Clippers.  As much as I hate them, the Lakers run a world class organization, the Clippers do not.

[Celtics4ever]

It's Hollywood and not Kobe.   I think a lot of players don't like Kobe but they like LA.  I detest the city because of the Lakers.   But players see a big market where they can branch out into movies and music.

[Kane3387]

I think the ultimate question will be whether New Orleans can find a better deal for a one-year rental of CP3 than the Celtics would be able to offer, either straight up or in a 3 team deal (as we've heard via rumors).

Here's to hoping they can't, but you are right. That is the only way I don't see him in Boston this year. The next question; however, is who besides DA has the assets AND the balls to potentially rent CP3 for just the year?

As heitingas pointed out, I think the Clippers might be willing to risk it, since they have the allure of playing with Blake Griffin in a large market that certainly rivals NYC -- and procuring a big time player like Paul or Howard via trade is probably the only way they can be sure of retaining Blake Griffin beyond his rookie contact.

I'm not certain if the Clippers would have the cap space to sign Dwight Howard next summer if they also signed CP3, though.  

I can't see the Clippers moving DeAndre Jordan and Eric Gordon if they don't know for sure that CP3 is staying. Griffin alone might not be enough to keep Paul. Yet the potential development of Eric Gordon, Eric Bledsoe, Deandre Jordan and Aminu might be enough to keep Blake (also a restricted free agent that they will match) around once his rookie deal is up.

Since they can probably clear some space (amnesty Mo William) to sign Howard via free agency after acquiring Paul I can't see why they wouldn't take a risk on a cp3 rental.I'd imagine selling Howard on the idea of teaming up with Griffin and Paul wouldn't be to hard afterwards.

The risk is that Howard is traded to New Jersey or the Lakers before that. Clippers can not trade for both. Their assets will only get them one. Orlando won't let Howard walk and get nothing.

[Kane3387]

I don't think so.
Chris Paul has his heart set on NY. I think he even if we offered him Howard and a max contract he'd wouldn't sign an extension.

Respectfully disagree with that one. A max contract and Dwight Howard? I think that guarantees he is a Celtic.