Clippers Score A Deal With Chris Paul

04:12

December 17, 2011

Los Angeles Clippers vice president of basketball operations Neil Olshey with newly acquired point guard Chris Paul during a news conference on Thursday. (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers vice president of basketball operations, Neil Olshey, appeared with newly acquired point guard Chris Paul during a news conference on Thursday. (AP)

NBA commissioner David Stern blocked the trade of New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers after the owners firmly protested against the deal. Shortly thereafter, the Los Angeles Clippers quickly agreed to a deal that would send three players and a first-round draft pick to the Lakers for the All-Star point guard.

Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated speaks with Bill Littlefield about the sudden turn of events with the start of the 2011-12 NBA season just around the corner.

"In the span of 4 or 5 days Laker land is all of a sudden in turmoil and the Clippers, for once, are the top storyline," Amick says.

Amick is not among those who expect the Clippers to bring home the 2012 NBA championship, but he says the 26-year-old Paul, who averaged 18.7 points and 9.8 assists last season with New Orleans, will be a welcome addition to the Clippers team, which finished the regular season at 32-50.

"They have two phenomenal pieces now in Blake Griffin and Chris Paul," Amick says. "[They have] tons of potential and all of a sudden they're an impact team in the Western Conference."

This segment aired on December 17, 2011.