The Los Angeles Clippers made shocking news by revealing they sent veteran Chris Paul home on Tuesday night ahead of their road trip. Paul joined the Clippers during the offseason and hoped to retire in this final season playing with the franchise he accomplished the most with. However, things started to fall apart to the point of the Clippers not even wanting him to sit on the bench.
Clippers head coach Ty Lue finally spoke about the situation an hour before Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks:
“I just think it wasn’t a good fit for what he was looking for. It is what it is,” Lue said to reporters. “Do I want to see CP go out like this? No. I have a lot of respect for him. He’s been a friend of mine over the years. You never wanna see a great go out like this. But I’m pretty sure he will find something, because he’s a great player. I didn’t wanna see it end like this.”
Lue expressed remorse over the situation, but he didn’t shut down rumors of him clashing with Paul. The previous friendship mentioned is interesting since fans have questioned their relationship once the news came out about the Clippers sending a legend home.
Did Lue Want Chris Paul Gone?
The most glaring report so far about Paul leaving the Clippers is that he clashed with the coaching staff and front office. Los Angeles is off to a brutal start and has the second-worst record in the Western Conference right now. Paul calling out issues with the team and problems that he felt he could speak about as a veteran leader.
However, the relationship between Lue and Paul reportedly soured to the point where they stopped speaking. Clippers General Manager Lawrence Frank confirmed that Paul would be sent home on Tuesday evening and that his time with the franchise was coming to an end. Paul clashing with the front office likely wouldn’t impact this since they are not on the bench every game.
It makes the most sense that Lue had an issue with Paul’s presence and felt things would get better without his voice. Lue tried to offer respect with his answers to press questions about Paul, but his refusal to shut down rumors was telling.
What Caused Chris Paul & Lue’s Drama
The Clippers struggling so badly comes from a poor offseason of making the wrong moves. Paul joined veterans Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal as new veterans meant to provide depth. Los Angeles believed that these players could help them contend for an NBA Championship, but all three moves have flopped.
Lopez is currently out of the rotation, and Beal suffered a season-ending injury. Paul losing his spot on the team proves that move is a failure with no chance of turning it around. The Clippers draft pick this season going to the Oklahoma City Thunder means they must turn things around.
Every decision goes towards hoping the roster can wake up and get on a hot streak to return to the playoff race. Paul is expected to eventually be replaced with another free agent or trade target. The long-term future is not bright for the Clippers, but Paul’s short-term future suffers most from this move.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Ty Lue Finally Speaks On Clippers Sending Chris Paul Home appeared first on Heavy Sports.