Chris Paul And Los Angeles Clippers are parting.
40 year old point guard announced Wednesday morning that he was being sent home to Los Angeles from Atlanta, where the Clippers play “Hawks”. He signed with the Clippers. one year deal in July he rejoined the team for which he played six seasons (2011–17). He had didn't talk with trainer Ty Lue for several weeks, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
After starting all 82 games for San Antonio Spurs Last season, Paul averaged just 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes in 16 games for the 5-16 Clippers. I struggle badly.
The Clippers Can't Trade Paul until December 15but they could waive him and pay his $3.6 million salary or agree to a buyout.
What's next for Paul and the Clippers, who lost Bradley Beal To season-ending hip injury last month? What teams might be interested in acquiring Paul for the remainder of the season? And if this is the end of his career – he announced in November that he will retire in 2026 – how will his time in the league be remembered? ESPN reporters and analysts opine:
Go to question:
How much does Pavel have left?
What teams would make sense to add him?
What are the Clippers' options now?
Can Los Angeles turn the season around?
How will Paul's career be remembered?
Why didn't the Los Angeles reunion work this time?
Both sides had good intentions, but it didn't fit.
President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank made it clear Wednesday morning that Paul is not blamed for the Clippers losing 14 of 16 games. But it's clear that if the Clippers and Paul, to a lesser extent, had played better, any other issues that led to this parting likely would have been more bearable.
When signing Paul, the Clippers made it clear that he would play a reserve role and that there would be nights when he would not be in the rotation. He wanted to stay in Los Angeles and finish his career with the Clippers. He didn't play five straight games last month, but then played in the next eight games, with his playing time fluctuating. However, in this disastrous season, everything did not go as planned.
Paul was an outspoken leader throughout his career who was known for his stubbornness at times. But he's not the only one who made the Clippers a 5-16 team. They look and play old. At a time when teams tend to draft young players who play fast, they drafted veterans with the playoffs in mind.
Other key Clippers acquisitions: Beal and Brook Lopez also did not produce the results they had hoped for. Beal was out of the lineup and Lopez was out of the rotation. What Los Angeles has in mind next remains to be seen, but the franchise is moving forward without Paul in just a few months. — Ohm Youngmisuk
How much does Pavel have left?
It was a surprise that Paul didn't get more playing time for the Clippers this season. As a Spurs player in the 2024/25 season, Paul was one of only six players in the league to start all 82 games. That season, he ranked seventh in assists (7.4 per game) and had a plus-9.0 points differential per 100 possessions per game. Glass cleaningwhich ranked in the 92nd percentile league-wide. At 39 years old, he was certainly no longer in his prime, but was still considered an average point guard, which seemed to make him an ideal option for the backup role in Los Angeles.
But Paul's performance has taken a nosedive in his limited time this season. He shot just 32% from the field and made two free throws in 16 games; Of the 296 players who have played at least 200 minutes this season, Paul ranks 279th in player efficiency rating and 277th in box plus/minus. The most bearish sign is that Tyronn Lue, a great coach, seems to have lost faith in Paul's ability to turn things around by playing him less even as the Clippers' season has gone south.
This doesn't necessarily mean Paul has nothing left, but the early results weren't promising. He enjoyed a smooth, gradual decline for years, but the decline in his age-40 season was sudden and dramatic. — Zach Crum
Which teams make sense as a landing spot for Paul?
While his former teams are Phoenix Suns And Houston Rockets — make the most sense on paper, but aren't ideal given how the season has gone. The Suns outperformed (13-9) and have had strong guard play this season. Colleen Gillespie And Jordan Goodwin. Gillespie is averaging 13.3 points and 5.0 assists. In his last two starts he scored a total of 52 points. Phoenix has an open roster spot but will pay the luxury tax. They are already $402,000 above that amount.
The Rockets are in a similar position as they are not allowed to sign a 15th player until early January. Even without a starting point guard Fred VanVleetthey rank first in the league in offense. However, they currently rank 11th in terms of turnover.
Los Angeles Lakers have an open roster spot and could be an option next month, but are not allowed to sign a 15th player until January 19.
In addition to these three teams, Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Miami, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Toronto have an open roster spot. However, only Atlanta is not a luxury tax or apron team. Dallas Mavericks used a two-way player Ryan Nembhard most recently at point guard. They will need to open up a roster spot to sign Paul. They also can't sign the player because of the second apron.
Expect more roster spots to open up after January 7th. This is the date teams will have to make decisions about players who have partially guaranteed contracts. — Bobby Marks
What options do the Clippers have to add to their lineup?
The Clippers are in a holding pattern. Paul's $3.6 million contract was guaranteed and would not be allowed to be traded until Dec. 15, when free agents who signed in the offseason can be traded.
While they can waive Paul now and take on his salary ($2.3 million would count toward the cap), they are not allowed to replace him because their salary is $1.3 million below the cap. The earliest they can sign a replacement is Jan. 7, unless there is a separate deal that goes below the apron.
More importantly, the Clippers are not allowed to have fewer than 14 players on their roster for more than 14 consecutive days. For example, if Paul is suspended until December 22nd, they will not be able to meet the minimum roster requirements. — Signs
Is there a chance the Clippers can turn their season around?
There are several reasons to think the Clippers' 5-16 record exaggerates their shortcomings: Their 2-7 record in clutch games is likely to level off as the season goes on, and their opponents likely won't continue to make 39% of their 3-pointers, the second-highest rate in the league.
But in a broader sense, the Clippers' slow start doesn't seem like a fluke. They rank 20th in offensive rating, 27th in defense and 24th in netting, and their Pythagorean record, which ranks a team's expected record based on point differential, is 7-14. Bye Kawhi Leonard missed 10 games, the Clippers are just 3-8 when he plays vs. 2-8 when he doesn't, and their other top players (James Harden And Ivica Zubac) missed just one game combined.
Other teams at the bottom of the Western Conference standings are also struggling: The Clippers have a better Pythagorean record than the Kings, Pelicans and Jazz, and are only slightly behind the Mavericks. But even if they rise above these four teams in the standings, they will still only end up in 11th place in the West, which won't even qualify them for a play-in spot.
The Clippers are already three games out of 10th place and 5.5 games out of eighth, meaning that even in the best-case scenario, they'll have to win a couple of games to make the playoffs and face the juggernaut. Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. — Hug
If Paul doesn't get picked, what will his legacy be in the NBA?
It's hard to know where to start because Paul has been at the center of many important moments in NBA history. Since his rookie year with the New Orleans Hornets. moved to Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina to the trade to the Lakers, which was cool vetoed NBA commissioner David Stern acting as owner of the Hornets, followed by a trade to the Clippers to form Lob City along with Blake Griffin And DeAndre Jordan.
Then there was the scandal with Clippers owner Donald Sterling. expelled from the NBA life for racist remarks towards Paul's former personal assistant was with the team. Don't forget Paul's work in NBA bubble creation in the 2020 season. Or his impressive work as president of the NBA Players Association. There are many more we could list, and Paul may one day tell these stories himself as he has already begun to explore the world of media.
But his basketball legacy may end up being one of the last true point guards. In his prime, he was nicknamed the “Dot God” due to his positional prowess, playmaking ability and statistical brilliance.
However, the game has changed radically over the past few decades. Point guard skills can be found at every position. Centers such as Nikola Jokic or forward as Luka Doncic now manage the games like Paul did. Current MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderwho considers Paul a friend and mentor, more of a hybrid defender who can score and attack. Paul is a true point guard in the spirit of John Stockton or Isaiah Thomas or Jason Kidd. He will finish his career behind Stockton in assists. And among players 6 feet or shorter, he ranks first in assists, steals and rebounds. — Ramona Shelburne
