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09:51 AM ET 02.10 | The whispers of optimism emanating from Staples Center about how confident the Clippers are that Chris Paul will sign for the long term when free agency hits in July have been rampant for months. And if the Clips' co-tenants can continue to get away with saying they're convinced Dwight Howard will choose to stay, no matter how the Lakers' increasingly nightmarish season turns out, maybe they have a right to act so sure. As one source close to the situation put it this week when asked to grade the Clips' chances of retaining CP3, keeping in mind his well-chronicled love of the Hollywood scene and the fact that this team was good enough to reel off 17 wins in a row earlier this season: "I'm saying 99.5 percent."

ESPN

Eric Bledsoe, Chris Paul, Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

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February 10, 2013 10:08 AM ET

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.5% is big in the NBA

Onion

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February 10, 2013 10:35 AM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:29 AM ET 02.10 by MMAFan

I think CP3 knows he has a good thing in LA. I really don't see him wanting to leave. Honestly, where is there a better situation available?

Mighty Raptors :)

Onion

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February 10, 2013 11:25 AM ET

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The team may be sure it wants the player, but is the player sure he wants the team?

...the best policy

Harrodsburg, KY

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February 10, 2013 11:30 AM ET

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Failure Is Not An Option, Bro.

I Love LA

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February 10, 2013 02:01 PM ET

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I think the commissioner should disallow his signing with the Clippers just like they did to the Lakers. Make him sign with the Bobcats.

iconwarren

Las Vegas , NV

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February 10, 2013 02:48 PM ET

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Of course he will resign with the Clippers. There is no better team in the league with the cap space necessary to give him a max deal.

mishagothe

Littleton, CO

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February 10, 2013 05:14 PM ET

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I don't know.......the Clippers organization ALWAYS finds a way to screw things up somehow!

derrickw38

Huntington Beach , CA

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February 11, 2013 10:16 AM ET

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This team can make it to the finals and win a champonship if not this year real soon. Problem is I don't think Vinny is a smart enough coach to push the right buttons, at the right time, with the right players. There is no team in the NBA right now with as much talent and experience as the Clippers right now

The Chosen Few

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February 12, 2013 11:30 AM ET

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QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 10:16 AM ET 02.11 by The Chosen Few

This team can make it to the finals and win a champonship if not this year real soon. Problem is I don't think Vinny is a smart enough coach to push the right buttons, at the right time, with the right players. There is no team in the NBA right now with as much talent and experience as the Clippers right now

The Thunder are much more talented. Honestly, I wouldn't be so optimistic about the Clippers' future. Look at Blake Griffin's stats, they decline each year. If he weren't a great dunker, I doubt he would get the amount of praise he receives. I really think he's a severely overrated player. Chris Paul is a great player, but isn't good enough to carry a team to a championship.