The Los Angeles Clippers parted ways with Chris Paul on Wednesday, ending his brief second tenure with the franchise. Paul, who re-signed on a one-year deal this summer, appeared in 16 games and averaged 2.9 points. Coach Ty Lue described the split as not a good fit.
Chris Paul's return to the Los Angeles Clippers lasted just 16 games, as the team announced his release on Wednesday. The 40-year-old guard, who originally played for the Clippers from 2011 to 2017, had hoped to end his career with the franchise while chasing an NBA title. Instead, the partnership dissolved quickly amid the team's struggles.
Paul posted on Instagram around 2:40 a.m. ET Wednesday: "just found out I'm being sent home." He averaged 2.9 points in 14.3 minutes per game, shooting 32.1% from the field. This came after playing all 82 games with the San Antonio Spurs last season, logging 28 minutes per game—his most since 2022-23.
Clippers coach Ty Lue addressed the move for the first time, stating, "I just think it wasn't a good fit for what he was looking for. It is what it is. Do I want to see CP go out like this? No. I have a lot of respect for him." Lue added, "I don't like it. It just didn't work out like we thought it would."
President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank emphasized, "This decision had nothing to do with one incident or one meeting. Some of our business, respectfully have to keep in-house."
The Clippers, off to a 5-16 start and on a five-game losing streak entering Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks, face salary cap restrictions preventing Paul's official move until Dec. 15. Paul recently announced plans to retire after the 2025-26 season, following stints with the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.