NBA rumors: 5 potential destinations for Chris Paul

3. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons surfaced as a suitor for Westbrook, with salaries they could have sent back to the Thunder in what would only be considered an all-in move in now an even more wide-open Eastern Conference. Losing out on Westbrook could bring a shift toward Paul now.

There’s one big factor for Detroit to consider though. Acquiring Paul would reunite him with Blake Griffin. As Paul’s leadership was questioned early last season, Griffin eventually weighed in during an appearance on FS1’s “First Things First.”

"The toughest thing, like all good players, he demands a lot out of his teammates. I don’t know if that’s necessarily a tough thing, I think it’s a great thing. Nick Wright: You got to be built for it, though. Griffin: Yeah, you definitely have to be built for it. You have to want the same thing. You have to want to win every night, you have to want to play at a certain level, and he demands that out of you like a lot of other great players."

Griffin carefully did not go all-in to criticize Paul in that setting, as expected. But it’s worth wondering how the two would get along, after six seasons with the Clippers where Paul was the anointed (self-appointed?) leader and the Pistons shifting the fulcrum of their offense toward Griffin last year. The Thunder are letting Paul have a say in his destination, and he may simply not want to play with Griffin again. The Pistons should be in the mix though.

Here’s a hypothetical deal.

Andre Drummond could be substituted for Kennard and Snell to make the money work, but Oklahoma City may not want the second year under contract (albeit a player option) the Pistons’ center brings.