Clue That Chris Paul Will Ink Los Angeles Clippers Deal

As TMZ first reported, Paul picked up a sweet Bel Air mansion that boasts 8 bedrooms and 10.5 bathrooms ... and used to belong to Avril Lavigne.

Paul paid $8.5 million for the house ... but according to the deed, he put a down payment of $3.5 million. The standard down payment on a house like that is usually around 30% of the total price, but Chris' payment represents 44% ... a pretty decent sign he plans to keep the house for some time.