Chris Paul Is Staying With The Clippers – NBA Roundup For July 2nd

UNDATED (AP) — Chris Paul has agreed to a new deal to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers. The agent for the All-Star point guard confirms that Paul settled on the new contract on the first day free agency opened.

Paul can earn about $108 million over five years with the Clippers. The deal can't be signed until July 10, after next season's salary cap is set.

Paul led the Clippers to their first Pacific Division title last season. His decision to stay is the second big victory for the longtime losers in this offseason, following the signing of Doc Rivers as Clippers new coach.

Also on the first day of NBA free agency, the Indiana Pacers have made a qualifying offer to backup forward Tyler Hansbrough and were starting the task of re-signing David West. Hansbrough was one of Indiana's bigger contributors off the bench last season, a bench new Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird intends to improve.

The Houston Rockets front office pitched Dwight Howard on leaving Los Angeles and joining All-Star James Harden in Houston. Howard is also being pursued by Dallas and Atlanta. The Lakers have said repeatedly they want to keep him.

A person with knowledge of the details says the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors have agreed on their deal involving former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani (ahn-DRAY'-uh barn-YAH'-nee). Toronto will receive Knicks reserves Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and Quentin Richardson, who will be signed-and-traded. The Knicks are also sending the Raptors a 2016 first-round pick and two second-round picks in a deal that can't become official until July 10, after next season's salary cap has been set.

And Andray Blatches (AHN'-dray blach) has agreed to a multiyear contract that keeps him with the Brooklyn Nets. Blatche appeared in all 82 games last season, his first with the team, averaging 10.3 points.