Chris Paul threatened Los Angeles Clippers management with the promise he would join Dwight Howard in Houston if the team did not sign Doc Rivers as coach.
According to Grantland.com, Paul soured on all the back-and-forth negotiations between Rivers and the organization and finally issued his ultimatum. News reports had already indicated he and Howard had entertained the thought of a LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chirs Bosh like Big 3 alliance as far back as when they were teammates on the 2008 Olympic Team.
“Chris didn't like that,” Grantland reported of Paul’s reaction to the first proposed deal with Rivers falling through. “He let them know he was heading to Houston to team up with Dwight. And he wasn't kidding. The Clippers blinked, the Doc trade got revived and finished, and the Clippers were offering Chris 107 million reasons to play for him.”
Indeed, during the height of this summer’s free agency period, both Paul and Howard flirted with overtures mutually extended to them by the Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks, before finally settling on their respective destinations.
While Howard’s decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers for Houston was reported to be much more contentious, behind the scenes revelations now reveal Paul coming to his ultimate decision was also filled with much intrigue than originally reported.
In the end of playing for a world champion coach and former top-flight point guard proved enough to reel Paul back into the fold.
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