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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 29: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles the ball up court against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half at Barclays Center on November 29, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
In a piece of breaking news, of the type much more expected at the start of July than at the end, it was today reported that Chris Paul would return to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Shams Charania of ESPN was the first on the news that Paul has agreed to sign with the Clippers for what will reportedly be a one-year minimum salary pact. News of Paul and the Clippers edging towards a reunion had been starting to seep through over the last few days, to the point that Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank outright confirmed their interest over the weekend. Now, it seems as though the deal has been closed.
The 21-year veteran and 12-time All-Star already let it be known that the 2025-26 NBA season would be his last, and the Los Angeles native has decided to play it out at home. But despite previous interest – and/or suggestions – towards the L.A. Lakers, Paul will instead rejoin the Clippers franchise, with whom he had his best seasons as a pro.
A Second Chance In Los Angeles
Paul was a member of the Clippers between 2011 and 2017, having been acquired via trade from the then-New Orleans Hornets amid the controversy of a different trade to the Lakers being vetoed by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern. It was during these years that he was at the heart of the “Lob City” era alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan that propelled what had long been one of the NBA’s most turgid destinations into a fun and competitive unit that advanced to three Western Conference semi-finals appearances.
Since then, Paul has been to a few different places, passed around more than most Hall-of-Fame point guards (as he inevitably one day will be) have ever been. He spent last season with the San Antonio Spurs, having signed a one-year deal as a free agent, and had previously been moved in trades to each of the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder. He was even a member of the Washington Wizards, albeit for only two weeks.
Paul will return to Los Angeles having just managed the highly impressive feat of playing all 82 games in his age-40 season. Assuming P.J. Tucker (who is one day older than Paul) is not picked back up by the New York Knicks or any other team, Paul will be the second-oldest player in the NBA next season, behind only LeBron James. And in agreeing to return to the Clippers, he is joining a very, very veteran team.
Clippers Compiling Deep, Deep Roster
So far this offseason, the Clippers have acquired Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal and John Collins, while also bringing back James Harden and Nicolas Batum. Their only loss of note is Norman Powell, dealt to the Miami Heat as a part of the deal for Collins, as well as depth forward options Amir Coffey and Ben Simmons, both negated by the arrival of Collins. And despite Powell’s great improvements, the availability of Beal already filled that rotational hole.
Even if they are never able to get much out of Kawhi Leonard ever again, the Clippers have assembled a roster with at least two quality veteran options at every position, and sometimes three. None of Paul, Harden, Beal or Lopez are at their career apexes any more, but to have all four on tap in addition to the excellent team defence anchored by breakout defensive star center Ivica Zubac – plus other useful players such as Derrick Jones Jr, Kris Dunn and Bogdan Bogdanovic to include in the mix – makes for a deep and potent team.
The depth on the roster will help to keep the legs fresh, and the defence of Dunn, Zubac, Jones and others will help to cover those that the grandees cannot easily keep up with any longer. There is only one ball, of course. But in bringing back Paul, the Clippers now have one of the game’s best passers and game-managers to ensure it gets proportioned out correctly. The stars are all coming to Los Angeles, but it is not to the Lakers this time.
Mark Deeks I am continuously intrigued by the esoterica and minutiae of all the aspects of building a basketball team. I want to understand how to build the best basketball teams possible. No, I don’t know why, either. More about Mark Deeks
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