HoopsHype.com Rumors

Matt Barnes is one of six unrestricted free agents on the Los Angeles Clippers roster this off-season, but if he were a betting man, he would wager that Paul would be back with the Clippers, and he hopes the same for himself. "Chris and I have seen each other a few times after the season and that's something we've discussed," Barnes told the Mason & Ireland Show on ESPNLA 710 on Wednesday. "Not to really get into his business too much, but I think the Clippers are one of his of top teams to say the least and if I was betting guy I would say he would be back with the Clippers next year." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Matt Barnes 

One source close to the situation said this week that there are just "too many positives" for CP3 in L.A. even in the face of a hugely disappointing Round 1 exit when it seemed that the Clips had a clear path to the Western Conference finals thanks to their 2-0 series lead over Memphis and OKC's loss of Russell Westbrook. Another source went so far as to predict that there's "zero chance" of Paul giving up the fifth year and nearly $30 million extra guaranteed that he can earn only by re-signing with the Clips. The strategy there: Take the money now and worry about finding a new home via trade later if the Clips can't build on this season's successes to establish themselves as true title contenders. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul 

The insiders learned a year ago that Paul had no intention of leaving, for more reasons that the fact he was on a promising young team in Lala Land. Paul wasn’t just on the Clippers, he had so much input, he was virtually running the team. It was even acknowledged by a Clippers official, noting, “This is Chris’s roster.” HoopsHype

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul 

Chris loves Chauncey Billups, whom the Clippers gave $4 million to play 22 games – and whom they’ll sign again, for pure leadership ability and ambience, if they know what’s good for them. HoopsHype

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups 

Chauncey Billups is never short on confidence. He has long built a reputation as a clutch shooter, leader and one of the better playoff performers in recent history. It came as no surprise, then, when Billups, 36, proclaimed that after an injury-plagued 2012-13 season he would be back to full strength. Close? “I won’t be close,” Billups said a day after the Clippers were eliminated from the playoffs in six games by the Memphis Grizzlies. “I’ll be there next year. I’ve finally got my body back in position where I’ve turned a corner and I feel good. Now, it’s all about me putting in the work and going through it.” NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups 

With Vinny’s firing, er, fate yet to be announced, the insiders’ frontrunners for the job are, indeed, all people Paul likes: Byron Scott, his coach in New Orleans; Alvin Gentry, the former Sun (and Clipper) coach; and Golden State’s Mike Malone, the hot assistant teams are lining up for. HoopsHype

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Byron Scott, Coaching, Alvin Gentry, Mike Malone 

Though the coaching situation could be resolved this week, Paul's status will drag through the summer. Teams, including the Clippers, are not allowed to speak with free agents until July 1. "The No. 1 priority for us right now has to be signing our star player, Chris Paul," Sacks said. "That's our goal. We want to put ourselves in a position to do that. We feel like this organization is in a position to move forward with that goal in mind. "I feel very confident. He is an integral part of this and we feel like we've had a great partnership for the last couple years and we want to continue it, obviously." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Gary Sacks 

Dan Woike: Gary Sacks wouldn't go into details on conversations with CP3, but he did use the word "confident" in terms of re-signing him. Twitter @DanWoikeSports

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Gary Sacks 

Jeff Zillgitt: MVP in order: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, James Harden, Russell Westbrook Twitter @JeffZillgitt

LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Tim Duncan 

Barnes was able to have a career season after he signed with the Clippers for the veteran's minimum before training camp began at the urging of Paul. Barnes had 30 points and 10 rebounds Friday against the Grizzlies. He said he will explore his options but hinted that Paul already had begun recruiting him to re-sign with the team. "Chris and I have already been talking about it," Barnes said. "We talked about it on the plan last night. He's obviously the franchise player but we also talked about what I was thinking about doing. Without giving anything away, he was doing his job (in recruiting me)." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Matt Barnes 

Arash Markazi: CP3: “I don’t know how this whole thing is going to go play out. I’m going to pray about it. We’ll see.” Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul 

Ramona Shelburne: Blake on CP3 re-signing: "He knows how we've done things, especially the last two years. I think he knows it's a great place to play." Twitter @ramonashelburne

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul 

A tantalizing candidate to be the Clippers' next head coach posited by one NBA executive if the team would like to maximize its chances of Chris Paul re-signing with the franchise: Chauncey Billups. I can't tell you if Billups is interested in retiring as a player at this point, or even if being a head coach is what he wants to do next, but he certainly knows the game well enough, has long held unusual authority among his peers on the court and in the locker room. Then there's this: no one is closer on that team than Paul and Billups. I also know that Paul's control of the franchise, by virtue of the fact the Clippers will do anything to keep him, is nearly absolute. As for the current head coach, Vinny Del Negro, the consensus around the NBA is that this first-round ouster is almost certain to cost him his job. There are plenty of contributing factors that led to their demise that Del Negro couldn't control -- Billups' Achilles tendon issues, Blake Griffin's high ankle sprain, to name two -- but owner Donald Sterling simply invested too much in this team to be out of the postseason already. If Del Negro stays, it's because Paul wants him to stay and I haven't heard from anyone that Paul is willing to go to bat for Del Negro in that way. I only hope that over the next few months Paul doesn't feign that he will have nothing to do with who gets the job next or del Negro not being retained. The only way that could be true is if he tells the Clippers definitively that he is not coming back; otherwise, they are assuredly going to be highly interested in who Paul thinks should run the team. Sulia

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Chauncey Billups, Donald Sterling 

Paul also has to think about his future. He will be a free agent this summer and can sign a five-year, $107.3-million contract extension with the Clippers. "I've got a lot of time to think about that as I do with any decision in life," Paul said. "I'll consult with my wife, my parents, my brother, my family. I might even let Lil Chris [ his son] chime in on this. We'll see what happens." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul 

The Clippers began to unravel in the third quarter, their emotions getting the best of them. They were called for five technical fouls. "I hate to lose more than anything," Paul said. "It stings. It's the worst. I didn't have nothing planned until after June, as far as camps. I don't have nothing to do. I'll spend a lot of time with my kids and my family, which is all good and well. But all I know is basketball. We're done." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul 

With three minutes left on the clock, Memphis leading 111-99 and the outcome already decided, Clippers wing Caron Butler committed a loose ball foul that sent Grizzlies forward Tayshaun Prince to the charity stripe. After Prince made his first freebie, Paul and Billups chatted at the 3-point arc about their respective responsibilities on the live ball after the second free throw. Billups told Paul he'd go box out the shooter; Paul's task, then, was to head down the lane to help out on Grizzlies center Marc Gasol. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph, Referees 

Griffin had to change his game to play with Paul, and vice versa. But overall they have a great relationship. "When I feel I'm playing at my best, I'm facilitating," Griffin says. "I like having the ball in the post -- not because I need to score every time, but because I like to make plays from there. This year I think I was better prepared because the whole lockout [in 2011] I was working out for what I expected to be our team, with Mo Williams. All Mo needs is a foot to shoot. He's throwing it in to me, I'm kicking it back out, he's going up with it. I'm doing a lot of facilitating out of the post. Playing with CP has changed the way I play, but for the better. It's still a work in progress, but I think it's making me a better player. I want to play with great players. I want to play with guys that want to win like he does." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin 

Arash Markazi: Chris Paul practiced today with his bruised left thumb taped up. He said he's better today and will start Friday's Game 6. Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Injuries 

Dan Woike: Chris Paul has a bruised left thumb but he will play in Game 6. Twitter @DanWoikeSports

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul 

Mike Conley added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who will try to wrap it up Friday night at home. The Pacific Division champion Clippers, who won their last seven games of the regular season to clinch home-court advantage for the first two rounds, would force a deciding seventh game for Sunday back at Staples Center with a win in Memphis. "We're not going to lay down and we're never going to give up," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We're going to play hard, play together and try to do what we can to make it work. We've got to regroup and see how healthy we can get between now and then." Chris Paul led Los Angeles with 35 points, tying a career playoff high. "We've got to be desperate. That's how it is," Paul said. "I've said the playoffs don't start 'til somebody loses at home, so I guess now they've started. We lost here at home. Now it's do or die in Memphis." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Chris Paul, Vinny Del Negro, Mike Conley