Report: Clippers expect Paul to demand full 5-year max contract
There's no denying that Chris Paul has been the backbone of the Los Angeles Clippers organization ever since he was traded by New Orleans in 2011. The franchise hasn't failed to qualify for the playoffs during his five years in Clipper colors, with Paul leading a "Lob City" offense that has electrified NBA arenas across the country every step of the way.
The 31-year-old has a player option for the 2017-18 campaign that he'll undoubtedly turn down in favor of a larger payday. Should that inevitably come to fruition, Clippers management is reportedly willing to give Paul a full five-year max contract to keep him on the roster, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe.
The length of the deal could very well change depending on the league's revised collective bargaining agreement, though. Nonetheless, whatever the CBA dictates is the maximum possible term, the Clippers will be willing to extend it Paul's way.
Blake Griffin is also in a similar boat with his player option of $21.3 million, and being over four years younger than Paul, it would be easier to justify paying him more money compared to his fellow All-Star teammate, who would be over 36 at the end of a new deal.
How Los Angeles ends the 2016-17 campaign should also play a huge part in whether either player wants to stick around at all. Despite being an annual 50-win squad, the Clippers can't seem to get over the hump once the postseason rolls through, continuing to fall short of a Western Conference finals appearance, let alone the NBA Finals.
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Paul's current player efficiency rating of 28 is his highest since 2009, adding 17.9 points on 44.8 percent shooting, 5.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and a league-best 2.8 steals to go along with it. The Clippers are losers of three-straight outings, though, and have come back down to earth after opening on a 10-1 hot streak.