Besides speculation on where center Dwight Howard will end up during the offseason, the city of Los Angeles was also buzzing about the possibility of guard Chris Paul leaving the Clippers during his free agency this summer as well.
However, after signing former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers as their new coach, there was little worry that Paul would not sign an extension to stay with the organization.
Rivers becoming the Clippers' new head coach and senior vice president of basketball operations earlier this week assured that Paul will remain in Los Angeles, according to sources.
Now Paul is expected to verbally agree to a five0year, $107 million contract extension with the Clippers until he's eligible to sign his new contract on July 10th.
Paul will become the second high-profile player to sign a long-term extension with the Clippers in the last two seasons. Blake Griffin signed a five-year, $95 million extension last summer.
With Paul sure to return, the Clippers appear to now also be exploring trade options for other players after being approached by the Toronto Raptors for guard Eric Bledsoe.
Bledsoe's desire for an extension and in-season proclamations from Paul saying that Bledsoe deserves to start elsewhere continue to convince other teams that the Clippers will ultimately conclude that the backup guard is a luxury that the franchise won't be able to afford.
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