March 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul (3) during a stoppage in play against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

First and foremeost, no Los Angeles Lakers fans; you’re not getting Chris Paul. But the market for Paul going into his ninth season as NBA player. He’s as elite a point guard as they come and with probably 3-4 years left in his prime he’ll have a nice market once free agency begins. The question is where he’ll end up. Though the masses think he’ll return to the Los Angeles Clippers there are a few teams out there that could use Chris Paul’s services. Here are four teams Paul could be playing for come October:

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clips are the perennial favorites as I stated before. Coming off their best year in franchise history, the Clippers have the tools to be a contender in the league. The problem is that Vinny Del Negro is holding them back in ways unimaginable. He’ll return to a team that features Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford and DeAndre Jordan. This core doesn’t scream championship, but with the right person heading the ship there could be a chance. Also the Clippers can offer Paul $30 million more than anyone else in the league can. For a guard who’s had numerous knee troubles this may be his best chance to cash out and contend before his prime years are over with.

Dallas Mavericks & Atlanta Hawks

Paul could probably end up in Dallas or Atlanta if superstar Dwight Howard joins him. And if D12 does, then Dallas is a far more attractive destination than Atlanta. Dallas is a better basketball market, has an owner in Mark Cuban who’s willing to spend whatever’s necessary to win and a proven star in Dirk Nowitzki to be the third wheel. A Paul-Howard-Al Horford combination would be solid, the biggest knack on playing in the Eastern conference is that you have to go through the 4-time MVP in Lebron James just to get to the NBA Finals. Most would be better off meeting him there instead of having to go through him. Dirk has stated that he’d be willing to take a pay cut so Howard and Paul could join the team, so there’s a chance these three could be Big 3 West if the Clippers slip up and let him walk.

Houston Rockets

Would you be surprised if Daryl Morey pulls this one off? Not at all. I’m not sure how James Harden would co-exist nor am I sure that this team’s current roster + Paul is better than the current Clippers roster, so that may be problematic. But Paul/Harden would become the best backcourt in basketball and pose a threat in the Western Conference. Often the Rockets problem was that they couldn’t get anything going when Harden wasn’t being amazing. The Rockets were one piece from beating a Russell Westbrook-less Oklahoma City Thunder team and even when Westbrook was playing they kept it close. Chris Paul’s talent is good enough to push them out of the first round, but overall team depth may be a problem when it’s time to start thinking Finals.

May 3, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul (3) brings the ball up court in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 118-105. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t want to tempt fate, or knock on wood, for that matter, but I’m sure that the Los Angeles Clippers are going to re-sign Chris Paul, who has really turned this franchise around. When Blake Griffin made his rookie debut, many thought that he was going to be dangerously good, and in a way, they were right. Unanimously voted Rookie of the Year, Griffin hasn’t failed to impress. He is one of the main reasons that the Clippers are going to see Paul re-sign.

Paul may be enjoying some time off to really think about these things, but the fact of the matter is that he loves the Clippers, who have really found a flow. As I’ve said over and over again, there’s no need to panic just because the Clippers have failed to make very deep postseason runs. This team has only been together for two years and is just now gaining chemistry. If it switches around, all of that will be lost and rebuilding will start again. When Paul realizes this, which he will, the Clippers will be back at it next season, to maybe usurp the San Antonio Spurs as the next dynasty.

1. Blake Griffin:

The very first reason is Griffin. Paul loves to throw dazzling alley-oop passes that stun other crowds and make his home crowd cheer. Everyone loves this. He also likes how Griffin can make a bad pass look good by leaping into the air to grab a lob that isn’t even on its way down yet. That’s insane, and Paul knows that he would like to stick around that. Not only is Griffin an incredible dunker, but he is also one of the best power forwards in the league and is continuing to progress as each season goes by.

2. Coaching Change:

I know, I know, you’re thinking that I say this entirely too often, but hey, it’s going to have to happen. Paul, just like any other player, hates to play on a team that isn’t going anywhere. If the postseason troubles continue for the Clippers, which I’m sure they won’t, they’re going to have to get a new coach. One way or another, Vinny Del Negro isn’t going to be the Clipper coach for too long. Maybe after the change is made, Paul will decide to re-sign with LAC and test the water with the new coach. That would be a wise decision for him, and in his defense, no one likes losing.

3. How Things Are:

Not only does Paul thrive on Griffin, but he also enjoys running a basketball squad. Yes, he did this with the New Orleans Pelicans, but again, it’s not very exciting when you barely make the playoffs and fail to get past the first round. This is what the fans want to see: Chris Paul running the showtime in LAC. He’s a great ball-handler and passer, and he always shows flashes of brilliance. He is the perfect point guard for LAC, and he knows that.