Doc after CP3 trade: 'We love where we're at'

The Los Angeles Clippers are putting on a brave face after losing their best player in Chris Paul.

Hoping to instill confidence in the fan base, Clippers head coach and team president Doc Rivers faced the press hours after completing the blockbuster deal with the Houston Rockets.

"I hate the way it ended," Rivers said, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times. "I wish we could have ended it better, as far as winning. But as a franchise, we love where we’re at."

Paul's exit likely spells the end of Lob City, a wildly polarizing era of Clippers basketball that featured exhilarating highs and stupefying lows. Paul saw Houston as a better career choice moving forward, which left the Clippers to pick up the pieces.

Los Angeles recouped Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, and a future first-round pick in exchange for Paul, who facilitated the deal by opting into the final year of his contract. Rivers is pleased with the return, given the situation.

"Under the circumstances, I thought we did terrific. Getting Patrick Beverley and Dekker and Montrezl was very important for us," Rivers said.

But the reality is that Paul might not be the only free agent to walk. Blake Griffin could follow and flee for a happier destination, which would leave the Clippers with very few prospects and one flawed star in DeAndre Jordan.