As reported by NBA.com’s David Aldridge:
Chris Paul will not commit to signing a contract extension after this season with either the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Clippers if he is traded to either team by the New Orleans Hornets, citing the potential financial hit if he were to do that rather than becoming a free agent and signing a new deal with a new team next summer, according to league sources. That has left potential deals with both teams in limbo.
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The Clippers, for example, are very reluctant to include the unprotected first-round pick from Minnesota they currently own in any deal with New Orleans — which is understandably holding out for the maximum amount possible in exchange for its franchise player — under the current scenario. A source indicated Wednesday it would be up to the Hornets to lower their demands for Paul to make the deal happen. New Orleans wants a combination of young players and Draft picks for Paul. But the Clippers’ package still does not include guard Eric Gordon, the player the Hornets are believed to covet most off of L.A.’s roster.
Another source indicated Wednesday night that New Orleans wasn’t interested in the Clippers’ second-year forward, Al-Farouq Aminu, as part of the package, either. Aminu would be more expendible if the Clippers sign Mavericks free agent small forward Caron Butler, who visited them Monday night, or Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince. Butler was in New Jersey Wednesday night visiting with the Nets, after very positive meetings earlier in the week with the Bulls and Spurs.
