The Los Angeles Clippers Now Have A Chris Paul Problem

From what the evidence shows, I find it compelling that SportsMoneyThe Los Angeles Clippers Now Have A Chris Paul blemByMat Issa, Contributor

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights

NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Getty Images On Monday, it was announced that Chris Paul would spend his 21st and final season with the same franchise he played for from 2011 to 2017

Moreover, After nearly a decade-long odyssey, Paul is back with the Los Angeles Clippers in a signing that should punctuate what has been a busy offseason for Los Angeles’ other basketball team (quite telling) (an important development)

In contrast, Along with adding Paul, the Clippers signed Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal, while also trading for John Collins

Last week, I gave my thoughts on what the Clippers’ championship outlook looked heading into next season, in this volatile climate

But that was before the Paul news

Furthermore, How much does his presence on the roster enhance Los Angeles' chances at a deep playoff run

To put it plainly, is Paul the icing the Clippers need for their title cake

Chris Paul Addresses The Los Angeles Clippers’ Greatest Weakness Outside of their age/injury concerns, the Clippers’ greatest weakness is their lack of passing, which can cause their offensive cess to become muddled – leading to uneven isolation possessions against stingier defensive teams, given the current landscape

James Harden is a stupendous distributor, ranking in the 90th percentile in Passer Rating

But other than him, the Clippers don’t have a single person in the 66th percentile or higher in this statistical category, given the current landscape

Paul may increase the team’s average age (he’ll be 41 next May), but even in his fifth decade on Earth, the man who sits at second all-time in total assists can still facilitate the basketball

Additionally, Last season, Grandpa Paul placed in the 93rd percentile in Passer Rating (he has been in the 90th percentile or higher every season of his career, per Thinking Basketball)

MORE FOR YOU Paul gives the Clippers another ball mover to keep possessions from growing stale when Harden is taking a break on the bench, in today's financial world

Meanwhile, His mastery of the pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop will also pair well with the Clippers’ troika of bigs (Ivica Zubac, Brook Lopez, and John Collins)

In contrast, The Issue With Playing Chris Paul In theory, Paul addresses the Clippers’ passing quandary

However, That’s a game-changer for them, right

In contrast, Well, not exactly

At this stage of his career, Paul is neither a major threat to score (19th percentile in points per 75 possessions) nor a credible defender (31st percentile Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes)

Furthermore, This leads to the conclusion that puts the Clippers in quite a bind

On the other hand, If they close with Paul instead of Beal, they are missing out on the latter’s scoring punch

If they play CP3 over Kris Dunn, they would be missing out on an All-League caliber defender

It’s a similar story with Derrick Jones Jr. , Bogdan Bogdanovic, Collins, etc (which is quite significant)

Moreover, In contrast, As we learned from watching the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers march to the NBA Finals, you need as many versatile players on your roster as possible

As currently constructed, the Clippers still have too many "specialists. " Kawhi Leonard is a two-way player, considering recent developments

Moreover, Zubac is one

Harden isn’t a two-way player, but his offensive value (94th percentile OFF EPM) is enough to make up for his defensive limitations, in today's market environment

Additionally, But what that fifth spot (which is quite significant)

Bogdanovic is a good scorer, but you lose passing and defense with him on the floor

Beal is also a good scorer (and solid playmaker), but he has his own defensive shortcomings

Moreover, Collins is a skilled big with incredible interior finishing abilities, but his defense is even more devastating given the positions he occupies (noteworthy indeed), amid market uncertainty

Additionally, Jones and Dunn are two of the best perimeter defenders in basketball, but they aren’t good enough shooters to always be trusted down the stretch

Lopez can shoot and tect the rim at a high level, but his lack of mobility can cause him to get played off the floor in the playoffs (this bears monitoring)

Besides, he and Zubac can’t realistically the floor for long periods of time

No matter what, the Clippers’ closing lineup will always have at least one guy who is leaving something on the table on one side of the floor or the other

Against bad teams, this won’t be an issue

Heck, given all their raw talent, this bably won’t be a blem against good teams

But what happens against the great teams the Thunder or the Cleveland Cavaliers

Paul makes the Clippers a deeper team, which raises their floor, considering recent developments

But their ceiling is still limited by their lack of reliable two-way players

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