The Los Angeles Clippers made their most dramatic decision of the season Wednesday morning, sending home future Hall of Famer Chris Paul in what NBA insider Chris Haynes described as a âbizarre severing ties move.â For a franchise already spiraling at 5-16, the decision signals a deeper unraveling than the record alone suggests.
A Sudden Split With a Franchise Icon
Less than two months into the season, the Clippers informed Paul he would no longer be with the team. The organization confirmed the move to The Athleticâs Law Murray, calling Paul a âlegendary Clipperâ while acknowledging responsibility for the teamâs collapse. The statement also made clear that Paul is not being blamed for the disastrous start, though it remains unclear whether Tyronn Lue, Lawrence Frank, or Steve Ballmer authored the message.
Regardless of who signed it, the message signals the end of a reunion that was supposed to provide leadership, stability, and nostalgia. Instead, it lasted 16 games.
Paul, 40, has struggled mightily in his twenty-first NBA season. The veteran point guard averaged 2.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in limited minutes while shooting well below league average. Even with numerous perimeter injuries, LA could not find a role that fit. The hope of a graceful final chapter evaporated quickly as his on-court impact dwindled and the Clippers sank toward the bottom of the Western Conference.
Just one week ago, sources told ESPN that Paul planned to retire at the end of the season. His recent message on social media, âWhat a rideâ¦Still so much leftâ¦GRATEFUL for this last one!!,â read like a man ready for a peaceful farewell tour. Instead, LAâs decision forces an abrupt crossroads: retirement, trade, or release.
A Complicated Legacy Meets an Uncomfortable Ending
Paulâs departure stings because of what he meant to the franchise. His six-season run during the Lob City era remains one of the most successful stretches in Clippers history. Those teams won 51 or more games five times and transformed the Clippers into a marquee brand. Paul averaged 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 2.2 steals during that span and consistently finished near the top of MVP voting.
He never reached the conference finals in Los Angeles, but he delivered relevance, identity, and credibility to a franchise that previously lacked all three.
His career since leaving LA is a tapestry of deep playoff pushes and near misses. He helped Houston reach the brink of the 2018 NBA Finals. Later he guided Phoenix to the 2021 NBA Finals. He mentored Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City. He spent seasons in Golden State and San Antonio, taking on reserve roles and leadership duties as he crossed into his late 30s.
But none of that eases the reality that this season has been difficult. Paulâs age finally caught up to him on a roster built on veteran star power. The Clippers believed they were assembling experienced depth. Instead, they assembled one of the leagueâs slowest, least dynamic backcourts and have paid for it with a bottom-tier offense and defense.
What Happens Next
Paul returned to Charlotte last weekend and posted three points and eight assists in a Clippers win. It now appears that may stand as his final appearance for the franchise he once carried.
The organization says it will work with him on âthe next step of his career,â but that step now looks far less predictable. Whether Paul chooses retirement, the buyout market, or a final change of scenery, the Clippers made the choice for him: the reunion is over.
And for a franchise collapsing under the weight of its own decisions, sending home its most decorated point guard feels like a symbolic moment. Not the cause of the crisis, but a reminder of how far this team has fallen from the expectations it set.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post LA Clippers Spoil Farewell Tour As They Cut Ties With Chris Paul appeared first on Heavy Sports.