https://twitter.com/LAClippers/statuses/354817428078882816
While the moratorium on signing players faded away at midnight Eastern, that hour is not so late on the West Coast. Within an hour of when they could do it the Clippers were over at Chris Paul’s house, got the deal inked and sent out that picture. Paul tweeted out images of the signing as well.
Little Chris seems very intent on studying the legal jargon. He shouldn’t worry, that is a max deal — five years, $107 million (CP3 has an opt out after four years).
Paul averaged 16.9 points, 9.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals a game last season, and more than that is the best floor general in the game. That made him the best free agent on the market this year (unless you want to argue Dwight Howard should be above him) but there was really never any doubt he was staying in L.A. That became especially true when the Clippers signed Doc Rivers up to be coach, then went out and got more quality players like J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley.
The Clippers could be contenders — they are going to score, but they will only go as far as their defense will take them. Doc Rivers needs to focus on that identity, and DeAndre Jordan needs to embrace it.
But it all starts with CP3 officially signing on the line that is dotted.