The Los Angeles Clippers have been busy this offseason; having acquired a shiny new head coach in Doc Rivers, the Clips are now looking at ways to bolster their roster to entice star point guard Chris Paul to remain in Los Angeles. One trade that is being floated would net L.A. sweet shooting two-guard Arron Afflalo.
According to reports, the Clippers could be considering a trade that would send hyper-athletic backup point guard Eric Bledsoe and swingman Caron Butler to the Orlando Magic for Afflalo, Andrew Nicholson, and a protected first round draft choice.
Dealing Bledsoe would hurt the Clippers bench in a big way, but the team is unlikely to be in a position to afford him after this season when he becomes a free agent. The Clippers already have a lot of money tied up in center DeAndre Jordan and power forward Blake Griffin, while Paul is almost certain to receive a max contract.
Last season Afflalo served as Orlando's No. 1 scoring option, and while he averaged a respectable 16.5 points per game, his 3-point shooting sank to 30 percent from 39 percent the season before. Afflalo's season may have proved his best value to a team is as a secondary scorer, which he would be on the Clippers.
In other news, the Cleveland Cavaliers are believed to be actively shopping the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and offered it to the Portland Trailblazers for LaMarcus Aldridge, but the Blazers rejected the offer.
Sources have said that several teams are interested in Cleveland's spot, including the Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.
This draft's expected top pick is injured Kentucky center Nerlens Noel, who tore his ACL during the season and isn't expected to be ready for the start of the 2013-2014 NBA season. Other potential choices at No. 1 are guards Ben McLemore of Kansas and Victor Oladipo of Indiana, as well as forward Otto Porter of Georgetown.
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