The Los Angeles Clippers may already be anticipating possible trades for Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, with both stars set to become free agents next summer.
The Clippers is facing the same uncertainty as any other team had, with Griffin and Paul, two of the team's core stars, possibly hitting free agency in the summer of 2017. Clippers head coach and President of Basketball Operations Doc Rivers admitted he expected trade rumors to resurface a few weeks before the deadline, expecting to have the same situation OKC Thunder had during Kevin Durant's final year in Oklahoma City.
"Blake and CP are free agents and just like last year, Oklahoma had to deal with that - now it's our turn," Rivers said, reports the Boston Globe. "It's been a sense of urgency since we've been there, in my opinion. And we haven't followed through yet, and there's another sense of urgency here. We're not the only ones. Everyone has a sense of urgency."
Both Griffin and Paul have early termination options in the final year of their contract with the Clippers, and with the salary cap set to rise yet again next summer, along with the possibility of the Clips failing to win a championship, they are expected to explore free agency.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders claimed Rivers is not open to trading Griffin and Paul whatever the situation may be. But while that seem to be the Clippers' stance heading into the regular season, it would be wise for the franchise to consider dealing either of the two.
Griffin and Paul have turned the Clippers franchise from NBA's laughingstock into a strong title contender. Since the two arrived in Los Angeles, thanks to a vetoed deal that would have brought Paul to the Lakers, the Clippers were able to reach the playoffs for five-consecutive seasons. But they only managed to carry the Clippers through the semifinal rounds, and had a disappointing first round exit last year due to injuries.
There is also the possibility of Griffin and Paul walking away next summer.
Griffin is expected to re-up his contract with the Clippers as the team can offer the most money and the five-time All-Star has plenty of business interests in Hollywood. But teams like the Thunder and Celtics could be appealing for Griffin, with both clubs rumored to have strong interests in pursuing the 27-year-old forward.
At 31, Paul could be considering joining a team where he could have a chance to win his first championship. Paul is good friends with LeBron James and both players have expressed their desires to join forces, which makes it realistic for Paul to leave the Clippers for a shot of NBA glory with the Cavs.
By trading Griffin and Paul, the Clippers could avoid getting ditched for nothing if the two decide to consider offers from other teams next summer. Their value should give the Clippers a handful of draft picks and veteran talents in return. But if the Clips get closer to winning an NBA title this season, there is a higher chance they retain Griffin and Paul.
Video courtesy: YouTube/House of Hoops