Paul, Howard want to play on same team
Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are looking to team together as both players enter free agency this summer, according to ESPN.
The only team with enough money under the salary cap to sign both players is the Atlanta Hawks. Howard is from the Atlanta area. While he reportedly does not have a strong desire to return there, he may be willing to do so if he can be teammates with Paul.
Howard and Paul will be the stars of free agency when it begins July 1.
Paul, the Los Angeles Clippers point guard, was angry at the team for publicly suggesting that he was to blame for coach Vinny Del Negro's firing. Paul has reportedly cooled off and is happy living in Los Angeles.
The only way the Clippers could lure Howard from the Los Angeles Lakers is through a sign-and-trade deal. However, the Lakers may not be interested in working with their crosstown rivals on such a deal.
The Lakers could be convinced to trade Howard if the Clippers offer up power forward Blake Griffin and point guard Eric Bledsoe. ESPN reported that the Lakers would not get a better deal than that for Howard.
Some inside the Clippers organization consider Griffin untouchable, according to ESPN, making it even more difficult to get a deal done.
Paul and Howard also reportedly tried to team up with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2011 lockout, but Howard extended his contract with the Orlando Magic and the Mavericks did not have the cap space for the players.
