Austin Rivers refuted reports that Chris Paul wanted to leave the Clippers in part because of a strained relationship between them, Sam Amick of USA Today reports. Rivers spoke to Paul by phone shortly after the rumor surfaced and Paul assured him that there was nothing to it, Amick continues. “Chris was just like, ‘This is a joke,'” Rivers told Amick. “So I asked him, I’m like, ‘You don’t need to come out and say nothing publicly, I don’t need you to do that. It’s just going to make it even more, now they’re going to drag it out two more days. I’ll take it. I don’t care.”
In other news around the Western Conference:
- The Kings’ promise that they were not in tank mode next season helped to sway point guard George Hill to sign with them, according to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. Hill signed a three-year, $57MM contract to join Sacramento. “A couple of teams I was in talks to really weren’t focused on winning,” Hill said. “A couple teams wanted to win. Sacramento called and said we have a lot of young guys but we’re not here to tank, we want to win and we want to do it the right way and if we take our lumps and bruises, we’ll take our lumps and bruises but we’re trying to win.”
- DeMarcus Cousins is entering his walk year and Jrue Holiday is already lobbying him to re-sign with the Pelicans, William Guillory of the New Orleans Times-Picayune writes. Holiday stayed with New Orleans by signing a five-year, $126MM deal as an unrestricted free agent. Cousins is no longer eligible for the designated player extension because the Kings dealt him. He can still sign an extension but can make more in free agency, Guillory notes.
- Center Dakari Johnson is a candidate for one of the Thunder’s final two roster spots, according to Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman. Johnson, the team’s second-round pick in 2015, has spent the last two seasons with the Oklahoma City Blue. A spot will be available if forward Nick Collison declines to re-sign or if the team waives guard Semaj Christon, Dawson adds.
I notice everyone keeps denying the rumors about Chris Paul and Austin Rivers but no one is denying the ones about Paul and Griffin… I’ll take that to mean the latter is true.
Clips kept/paid the wrong guy. Griffin contract is stupid. Jerry West might have gotten there too late….he did stop warriors from trading Klay…should have stopped this bad contract!
west was the one who said no to cp3 for the 5th year. he was also the one who advised to keep blake so your completely wrong
Funny thing is Glenn baby Davis posted that video about Austin weeks before this. So two people have been saying it. If they were fake Austin would of laughed and let go, been dealing with media since Dad was playing. But he and his dad been on some campaign to say they are untrue.
I can see Cousins staying in NOLA. It seemed he never wanted to get traded from SAC (Surprisingly). Depending on there success in a tough West but he should look at all his options.
He didn’t want to leave SAC because he wanted to be eligible for the super max. Doubt he will feel any loyalty to New Orleans. Outside of 3 players that roster is a mess
I think if the Pelicans do not make the playoffs even if it’s as the 8 seed Cousins will walk. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Lakers tried to sign him to pair him with Paul George. Not sure it’ll happen but I d think they’ll try. Everyone keeps saying Lebron and George but I’m not buying that.
Boogie with the Fakers…loud mouth Ball…what a circus. Nola coach needs to figure out how to get 2 dominant Bigs to take over games and win. You cannot “me too ” and beat warriors…you must make them play your game…pound the rock inside….shoot 70%…get the other team in foul trouble…2-3 shots per possession if needed. Isn’t that what great coaches do?? C’mon man!
Shoot 70% lol