HoopsHype.com Rumors

ESPN.com has also learned that the Celtics and Clippers -- in an offshoot of February's Kevin Garnett-to-L.A. trade talks -- discussed expanded trade scenarios that actually could have sent both Garnett and close friend Paul Pierce to the Clippers before the league's Feb. 21 trade deadline. Sources say that those talks, before breaking down, were centered around Boston getting back both prized Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe and young center DeAndre Jordan and did not involve Clippers star forward Blake Griffin. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Paul Pierce, Trade, Doc Rivers, Blake Griffin, Eric Bledsoe, Coaching, Kevin Garnett, DeAndre Jordan 

It is not yet known if the Clippers intend to revive those trade discussions and pursue either Garnett or Pierce -- or both -- in conjunction with this month's NBA draft. But one source familiar with the Clippers' thinking told ESPN.com that the club plans to be "very aggressive" and "shake every tree" in terms of upgrading the roster this offseason. Acquiring Garnett or Pierce -- or both -- would naturally make Rivers even more of a natural coaching target for the Clippers than he already is. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Paul Pierce, Doc Rivers, Eric Bledsoe, Coaching, Kevin Garnett 

Joe Kotoch: Orlando's thinking on Bledsoe availability appears based on Chris Paul's status & displeasure w/ Clippers at the moment. Twitter @Probballdraft

Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe 

David Baumann: "The Magic have been shooting it down... There's nothing to it as of now," @Alex Kennedy on Bledsoe/Afflalo trade possibilities. Twitter @DavidBaumann33

Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Arron Afflalo 

Sources say the Magic have a lot of interest in Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe and would be willing to trade Afflalo for Bledsoe and Caron Butler's expiring contract. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Arron Afflalo 

Clippers sources have been adamant that they don’t have to do anything with Bledsoe until next summer or at the earliest the trade deadline in February of 2014. Combine that with Paul’s history of injury, there is concern about liquidating such a low cost and productive player too soon, but it is clear that if the Clippers chose to, they could fetch a nice return on Bledsoe and that might become important once Paul inks his new deal this summer. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe 

The 23-year-old point guard is progressively improving and Chris Paul knows it's only a matter of time before he will be forced to play against him instead of alongside of him. "Bled is one of the best guards in our league," Paul said after practice Sunday. "I've said it all season long. I'm enjoying playing with him right now because there's no way he can be here next year because we probably won't have enough money to pay him. He should be a starting point guard in this league next year." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe 

Bledsoe is actually under contract for next season at $2.6 million, but Paul's words may be the clearest indication yet that he fully intends to sign the five-year, $108 million contract extension the Clippers plan to offer him in the offseason. He knows as long as he is the Clippers' point guard; there simply is no room for Bledsoe. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe 

Arash Markazi: CP3 on Bledsoe: "There’s no way he can be here next year because we probably won’t have enough money to pay him." Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe 

Arash Markazi: CP3 on Bledsoe: "He should be a starting point guard in this league next year.” Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe 

Arash Markazi: CP3 won't talk about his future but the way he's talking about Bledsoe's would lead you to believe CP3 is here long-term. Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe 

Neither Bledsoe nor the Clippers have given a timetable for the backup point guard's return. "No, I'm not surprised at all that it's taking this long," Bledsoe said. "It's the kind of injury I couldn't let linger on, so at some point I had to rest before it got even worse. I can't really bend it right now. I'm trying to work on controlling the swelling." Bledsoe said he is making progress and hopes to practice soon. "I'm getting there," Bledsoe said. "Who knows? We're going to see how it feels. Tomorrow I will come in and get some work in." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Eric Bledsoe, Injuries 

Utah wants a point guard. If the Jazz are going to take a poisonous salary attached to something they really want, that prize is going to be a lead ball handler. Had they found one, perhaps they'd have done something. But they didn't. The Millsap–for–Eric Bledsoe talks never got serious, per three sources close to the (non-)talks, and the trade market wasn't teeming with quality point guards beyond Bledsoe — especially since Utah can wait to spend in the offseason. Grantland

Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Paul Millsap 

Alex Kennedy: One source said the Jazz and Clippers discussed deal that would've swapped Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll for Eric Bledsoe and Lamar Odom. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Trade, Lamar Odom, Eric Bledsoe, Paul Millsap, DeMarre Carroll 

An NBA source said a possible trade sending Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles from the Boston Celtics for guard Eric Bledsoe and center DeAndre Jordan was “closer to happening than people think.” Yahoo! Sports

Boston Celtics, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Kevin Garnett, DeAndre Jordan 

The reality is that Bledsoe is going to get paid lucratively; it’s just a matter of where. It will be up to the Clippers’ front office to decide if he fits with Paul and Blake Griffin, as well as in the team’s long-term plans. “Whatever happens happens. For right now I’m playing backup point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers,” he said. “Who knows what the future holds. I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing and try to get a win at the end of the day.” ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Eric Bledsoe 

Because Bledsoe, 23, and Jordan, 25, are so young, Del Negro was asked whether he needed to talk with them about the rumors. "No, because if I felt it was necessary, I would do that," Del Negro said. "But there are a bunch of needs out there. Like you said, they are young players that teams covet and that's a good thing. That's a good thing for us. That's a good thing for them. "But we feel good with our team right now. ... Nothing has been presented to any of us that makes sense for us to do anything different right now. But we're always available, always looking to make our team as strong as possible. But right now, we feel comfortable with our t Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan 

The one constant in every proposed trade has been Bledsoe, who has been Paul's understudy the past two seasons. Paul said he has talked about the various rumors and dealing with trade talks with Bledsoe. "I've talked to Bled a little bit," Paul said. "But, one thing about Bled is that he understands. He understands this is a business and at the end of the day he understands how much he means to this team. If you would have seen the last two days of practice, he's been hooping. I pulled him to the side at the end of this one and told him, 'I can't guard you. In practice, I can't stay in front of you, so that's why I stay on you during the games, because if you stay on me like this in practice, I want you to do the opponents like that.' " ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe 

Some rival front offices view the Clippers as a "house divided" when it comes to trading or not trading backup point guard Eric Bledsoe, one official said. But the Clippers are simply weighing whether a deal for Boston's Kevin Garnett -- assuming he'd agree to waive his no-trade clause -- would be worth breaking up the best bench unit in the league. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Kevin Garnett 

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Boston Celtics have, indeed, registered their interest on the Smith front, with the caveat that they also remain highly interested in the Clippers' Eric Bledsoe. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Josh Smith