Following The Doc Rivers Signing Last Month, Clippers Lockup CP3 In Multi-Year Extension.
*UPDATE*
CP3 Reports if Clippes didn’t sign Doc, he would’ve joined James Harden & Dwight Howard in Houston. Read HERE
The biggest free agent of the 2013 off-season was by far Chris Paul. One of the questions that lingered following the Los Angeles Clippers first round exit loss to the Memphis Grizzlies 2 months ago, was whether Chris Paul would be leaving the team.
Initially, with Vinny Del Negro still coaching, we thought (were told) Chris Paul’s tenure with the Clippers would soon be coming to an end; with an imminent pairing in Atlanta with Dwight Howard. Last week, the Clippers acquired coach Doc Rivers in a trade (re-read that) from the Celtics in exchange for a future first-round pick in compensation.
Doc immediately agreed to a deal with the Clippers for 3-years’ worth $21 million, giving Chris Paul incentive to stay put with Blake Griffin in LA. Last year, Blake (The Amare of the bunch) gave the Clippers a future after agreeing a 5-Year extension.
Chris Paul can officially sign the deal on July 10th when free agency signings begin.
Hit the jump for more on the story.
While Doc Rivers struggled with wins last year in Boston, his Celtics still remained the second most efficient team on the defensive side of things allowing opponents to only 88 points a game (behind Knicks). Lack of a defense initiative, was one of the contributing factors that plagued the Clippers last year.
Los Angeles was one of the better teams in the NBA regular season finishing with 56 wins; but after losing four consecutive games to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, their team defense was exposed under the Del Negro era and would need some immediate changes. Under Doc, we expect him to bring his tough-minded physical style of coaching from Boston to Los Angeles; and paired with Chris Paul and a young Black Griffin only 24 years of age still, the teams upside is currently unlimited.
Los Angeles roster still needs improvement at the front court and after Brooklyn’s recent acquisition of Kevin Garnett, who the Clippers were trying to acquire; this may in fact be their core unit heading into the 2014 NBA season.
OS REWIND: Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers Agree To 3-Year/$21M Deal