NBA Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Consider Signing Chris Paul

Five Teams That Should Consider Signing Chris Paul

Now that the NBA season is over for all but two teams, executives all over the league are starting to evaluate their rosters and see who they should move or add to their teams. The draft happens later in the month, but one of the more important ways teams will be improved upon is through free agency.

Each year, teams from all over the league make plays for the top free agents. Most years, there are a couple of free agents that have the attention of multiple teams. This year is no different as Chris Paul is available and appears ready to test the open market. At first it seemed like Paul was content to stay in L.A., but after a first round exit from the playoffs, the future doesn't seem as certain.

Paul came to the Clippers from the New Orleans Hornets and has been a critical reason for the Clippers' success in the regular season. Playing along side Blake Griffin has made them into one of the more dangerous duos in the NBA. Paul and Griffin's play on the fast break remind fans of John Stockton and Karl Malone from the 90's.

Paul's ability to lead a team and run an offense has general managers and owners from all over the NBA looking at trying to add him to their team. The painstaking process of trying to figure out how to add him because of the salary cap has begun in many different offices. Although just about every team in the league would love to have Paul running their offense, the reality of the situation is that only a handful of teams have a legitimate shot at signing the free agent point guard. Here are a list of teams that should make a real hard push at signing the free agent.

Los Angeles Clippers

Obviously, it makes sense for the Clippers to keep Paul and re-sign him. He plays well with Blake Griffin, and has helped make the Clippers relevant again in a city that once was dominated by the Los Angles Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers

Some think that Paul should stay in Los Angeles but switch uniforms and sign with the Lakers. The Lakers were the team Paul originally would have been with; the Hornets and Lakers had a trade worked out, but some of the owners balked at it since the league owned the Hornets and they felt the trade was too partial. If the Lakers re-sign Dwight Howard and they add Paul, just imagine the lineup they'll have as Kobe Bryant is returning from surgery.

Dallas Mavericks

Mark Cuban has said all along his team is going to be a big player in the free agency market this year. Dallas fans are extremely skeptical as the last two offseasons haven't gone the way they had hoped. Cuban and the Mavericks have already missed out on Paul, Howard and Derron Williams. One of the pressing needs Dallas has is the point guard position, and Paul could fill that hole in a big way. Dirk Nowitzki still feels like he has a few more good years and if you add Paul to the lineup, this team could instantly vault back to a powerhouse in the Western Conference.

New York Knicks

Its evident that the Knicks need some help. They have one of the greatest scorers in the game with Carmelo Anthony, but they need some help in other areas. Tyson Chandler has helped clog the middle defensively for the Knicks but their other superstar, Amare Stoudemire, has been a bust. Stoudemire has been injured so much its hard to think he's going to return to his Phoenix Suns form. The Knicks need to look at possibly adding another star player to help Anthony with the offensive load. With Jason Kidd retiring, what better player to add in the point guard position than Chris Paul? Having someone that can get Anthony the ball and distribute on the fast break could be what the Knicks need in order to contend with the Heat and the Pacers in the Eastern Conference.

Indiana Pacers

Coming off a disappointing Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat, the Pacers showed the world that they can compete in the Eastern Conference. However, the way they are constructed right now makes you wonder if they can ever get over the hump and beat the Miami Heat and LeBron James. This is why they should look at adding Chris Paul to this already-deadly lineup. The Pacers wouldn't be able to sign Paul outright, so they would have to do a sign-and-trade with the Clippers. If this is something they can do, they need to add Paul to the lineup.