Chris Paul Trade Reportedly Includes 2012-13 Guarantee For Clippers

One of the key questions circling around Chris Paul trade talk over the past two weeks was whether the All-NBA point guard would pick up his player option for 2012-13 or sign a long-term deal if traded to a team not on his initial list of acceptable landing spots. As it turns out, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, Paul did agree to remain under contract through 2013 in Thursday's reported trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.

That gives the Clippers two seasons to convince CP3 to remain in L.A. long-term -- and not with the city's more glamorous squad. It also dings the 2012 free agent class plenty; Paul would have been No. 2 on that list behind Dwight Howard and ahead of Deron Williams.

The Clippers should immediately burst into the West playoff picture, and no one has ever complained about playing with Chauncey Billups or Blake Griffin. The Clippers could have the makings of a dynasty. At least the franchise knows it will have at least two years to suss that out.