Chris Paul Spotted In Vegas Prior To China Trip

Thursday, the Los Angeles Clippers opened up their preseason schedule against the defending NBA champion Miami Heat, 6,257 miles west of Los Angeles, at the MasterCard Center in Beijing, China.

iFolloSports.com has learned that the weekend prior to the Clippers nearly 13-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean, star point guard Chris Paul was spotted at The Cosmopolitan Hotel Las Vegas, a mere 264 miles east of the City of Angels.

Since his triumphant arrival in Los Angeles last December, Paul and his family have quickly acclimated themselves to West Coast life, with their purchase of an $8.5 million Bel Air mansion serving as the greatest of example of this.

In addition to beautiful weather, easy access to ocean, mountains and desert, as well as an endless array of dining/entertainment options, one of the greatest and most beloved features of Southern California life is the area's very close proximity to the great city of Las Vegas. Like so many of his fellow citizens, it appears that the superstar playmaker also enjoys taking advantage of this level of Sin City convenience.

Paul is slated to become a free agent at the conclusion of this upcoming season.  When considering his apparent feeling of comfort in Los Angeles, the fact that fellow Clipper star Blake Griffin has agreed to a long term deal to stay with team and because the Clippers are able to offer Paul the most lucrative contract on any team (five-year/$108 million), it would be an absolute stunner if the Wake Forest alum is playing anywhere else besides with the Clippers in 2013.