Clippers Plan to Split With Chris Paul; Veteran Guard Intends to Keep Playing
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Los Angeles – Chris Paul remains on the Clippers’ payroll, but the 40-year-old has already played his final game for the franchise. The club announced late Tuesday that it will move on from the 12-time All-Star once league rules allow, even though an immediate release would complicate both the roster and a salary cap sheet that sits less than $1.3 million below the hard cap.
Paul cannot be traded until December 15, yet the organization’s decision arrived barely two weeks after he publicly confirmed the 2025/26 campaign would be his last as an NBA player.
Paul Not Ready to Retire
Appearing on ESPN’s “NBA Today” Thursday, Andscape’s Marc J. Spears said sources insist Paul intends to keep playing. “I was told absolutely not” when asked if the veteran is ready to retire, Spears noted.
Sharp Decline on the Court
The 21-year veteran’s production plummeted this fall after starting all 82 games for San Antonio last season. In 16 appearances with Los Angeles, he averaged 14.3 minutes, 2.9 points and 3.3 assists while shooting .321 from the field, .333 from three and .500 at the line—all career lows.
Concerns Beyond Performance
Paul’s outspoken leadership style has also drawn scrutiny. Reports following the Clippers’ decision described teammates and staff growing weary of what they viewed as acerbic feedback. One league executive told Heavy.com that any club considering Paul must already possess “strong internal discipline” to handle “the whole CP3 experience.”
Possible Landing Spots
A separate front-office source told Heavy.com that Eastern Conference teams such as Orlando or Detroit could benefit from Paul’s playmaking, provided salary-cap and chemistry issues are resolved. During the summer the guard chose the Clippers to stay near his family in Los Angeles; according to Spears, Paul will weigh all options if East Coast opportunities arise.
Next Steps for Los Angeles
The Clippers must decide whether to find a trade partner after December 15 or waive Paul and absorb his veteran-minimum guarantee. Either route would formally end a brief, turbulent stint in which the future Hall of Famer never found his footing on the court—or in the locker room.
Source: Hoops Rumors
