Clippers Trade For Chris Paul Turns L.A.'s Focus Away From Lakers

The Clippers' trade for G Chris Paul has "put pressure on the Lakers,” as the team has "become the talk of the town, exciting and packed with all kinds of promise," according to T.J. Simers of the L.A. TIMES. When comparing the Clippers to the Lakers, the Lakers "are coming off as the losers." Simers: "Whom do the Lakers have to match the unbridled enthusiasm attached to Blake Griffin's high-flying game? Kobe [Bryant] has been there and done it, but the new kid in town is fresh, and how good will he be with Paul feeding him the ball? The anticipation alone is thrilling." The Lakers "probably still will win more games, but there's just no buzz about them” (L.A. TIMES, 12/15). In L.A., Bill Dwyre writes on landing Paul, it “cannot be overstated what a huge moment this is for the Clippers.” It is “always dangerous to sell [Lakers Owner] Jerry Buss and the Lakers short” as this has been “their town as long as we can remember.” But Dwyre writes with “one great stroke of his pen on a deal for Paul,” Clippers Owner Donald Sterling “might have painted an NBA Picasso” (L.A. TIMES, 12/15).

TAKING OVER THE TOWN: ESPN.com’s J.A. Adande wrote the arrival of Paul means the Clippers “are no longer the Clippers.” The franchise just “made their boldest move since relocating to Los Angeles in 1985,” bringing in an "All-Star in his prime.” The Clippers and Angels “are making the big splashes at the expense of the Lakers and Dodgers.” It does not “even feel like L.A. anymore” (ESPN.com, 12/15). In L.A., Broderick Turner writes the deal “already has sent reverberations throughout the NBA.” TNT NBA analyst and former NBA exec Steve Kerr said, "The Clippers are finally relevant. ... It looks like the Clippers are actually poised to kind of take over that town. (Paul) is the guy that's going to take them to the next step" (L.A. TIMES, 12/15). ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, “They made the big, splashy move. They now are about as sexy a team as you could have” ("Mike & Mike in the Morning," ESPN Radio, 12/15). NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper writes under the header “By Adding Paul, Clippers Send Loud Message To Fans, Teams” (NBA.com, 12/15). ESPNLA.com’s Kevin Arnovitz wrote a franchise “that's taken multiple detours since its arrival in Los Angeles deserves a heap of praise” (ESPNLA.com, 12/14). In L.A., Vincent Bonsignore writes the last time “a player the caliber of Paul expressed a legitimate interest in coming to the Clippers was never.” So when the "best all-around point guard in the NBA actually included them as one of the preferred teams he’d accept a trade to,” Clippers VP/Basketball Operations Neil Olshey “had no choice but to pay whatever it took to make it happen.” Bonsignore notes there is “no guarantee Paul will be here longer than two seasons.” But for a team “almost begging for relevancy in Los Angeles and league-wide, the risk is worth it” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 12/15).