LOS ANGELES — Chris Paul’s second stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has ended after just 16 games. The 40-year-old point guard said Wednesday morning that the organization instructed him to return to Los Angeles while the team continued its road trip in Atlanta.
Why the split happened
Paul signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Clippers in July, reuniting with the club he represented from 2011 to 2017. The agreement called for a reserve role, with occasional nights out of the rotation, but the plan unraveled during a 5-16 start. Paul averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes, shooting 32% from the field.
Head coach Tyronn Lue curtailed Paul’s minutes as losses piled up, even though team president Lawrence Frank emphasized that the guard was not being blamed for the broader slide. The Clippers also lost Bradley Beal to a season-ending hip injury and have seen Brook Lopez fall out of the rotation.
Transaction options
The Clippers cannot trade Paul until Dec. 15 because he signed as a free agent this summer. They could waive him immediately, absorbing about $2.3 million on the cap, or negotiate a buyout. Releasing Paul would temporarily drop Los Angeles below the 14-player minimum; league rules require the vacancy to be filled within 14 days, though cap constraints mean the earliest practical signing date is Jan. 7 unless another deal creates space sooner.
Teams that could pursue Paul
A handful of clubs have an open roster spot:
- Phoenix, 13-9, but already $402,000 over the luxury tax and receiving strong guard play from Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin.
- Houston, leading the NBA in offense yet restricted from adding a 15th player until early January.
- Los Angeles Lakers, unable to sign a 15th player before Jan. 19.
- Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Miami, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Toronto, with Atlanta the only team not facing luxury-tax or apron concerns.
- Dallas would have to open a roster spot and contend with second-apron limits.
Assessing Paul’s current form
Last season with San Antonio, Paul started all 82 games, averaged 7.4 assists and posted a plus-9.0 on/off differential, ranking in the 92nd percentile league-wide (Cleaning the Glass). The drop this season has been steep: out of 296 players logging at least 200 minutes, he ranks 279th in player efficiency rating and 277th in box plus/minus, and he has attempted only two free throws.
Clippers’ outlook
Los Angeles sits 20th in offensive rating, 27th in defensive rating and 24th in net rating. Opponents are shooting 39% from three-point range, the league’s second-highest mark. Their 2-7 record in clutch games suggests some room for improvement, but even a moderate turnaround would still leave them fighting for a play-in position in the crowded Western Conference.
Legacy on the horizon
Paul has said he intends to retire after the 2025-26 season. He is second only to John Stockton in career assists and leads all players 6 feet or shorter in assists, steals and rebounds, reinforcing his reputation as one of the last traditional pass-first point guards.
The Clippers, meanwhile, move forward without the 12-time All-Star just months after bringing him back with hopes of a storybook finish.
Source: ESPN
