Clippers Stars Leonard, Harden ‘Shocked’ by Overnight Chris Paul Exit
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ATLANTA — Kawhi Leonard and James Harden said they were stunned Wednesday morning when they learned that veteran guard Chris Paul was no longer a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The organization informed Paul of the decision after a three-hour, late-night meeting between president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and the 12-time All-Star at the team hotel in Atlanta. Leonard and Harden discovered the news on their phones shortly before the club’s game against the Hawks.
“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said after Los Angeles ended a five-game skid by defeating Atlanta 115-92 on Wednesday night. “That is out of my hands. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision for the organization.”
Leonard said he had to read the alert twice. “It was shocking to me,” he said. “I guess they had a conversation and the front office made a decision.”
Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that Paul and head coach Ty Lue had not spoken for several weeks leading up to the move. According to those sources, Paul’s outspoken leadership style — aimed at holding management, coaches and players accountable — had begun to feel disruptive inside the locker room.
Frank emphasized that the choice was not triggered by a single incident and followed multiple discussions. Lue, speaking before Wednesday’s game, said he did not believe Paul’s play explained the team’s 5-16 start. “It just wasn’t a good fit for what he was looking for,” the coach said. “You don’t want to see a great go out like this.”
Paul, regarded as one of the best players in franchise history, plans to retire at season’s end, his 21st in the NBA, sources said. For now, he has been sent home to Los Angeles while his future is sorted out.
The 38-year-old signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract in July, making him ineligible to be traded until Dec. 15. Waiving him is complicated by the Clippers’ proximity to the first tax apron; the team sits just $1.3 million below that threshold and, under league rules, cannot add a replacement if the roster drops below 14 players for more than two weeks.
A buyout is possible, but only clubs with an open roster slot could sign him, and among the 10 such teams, only the Hawks currently operate outside the luxury-tax and apron constraints.
Source: ESPN
