Chris Paul shared his first public comments since the Los Angeles Clippers waived him last week, stating he is at peace with the situation. The 40-year-old guard, who announced his retirement plans in late November, learned of the decision in the middle of the night during a road trip. Paul is now exploring options to finish his career elsewhere while enjoying rare family time.
Chris Paul, in his 21st NBA season, announced on November 22 that he would retire at the end of the year. Just two weeks later, the Clippers made the shocking decision to waive him on December 3, a move Paul discovered via a middle-of-the-night notification while the team was in Atlanta preparing for a game against the Hawks. This came amid the Clippers' struggles, sitting at 6-18 with the league's 23rd-ranked net rating and a 2-8 record in their last 10 games.
Reports suggested tensions, including Paul's criticism of the team's poor start leading to him being sent home. There were claims of a rift with coach Ty Lue, with some saying they were not on speaking terms. Lue refuted this on Tuesday, stating, "That ain't true. We were talking. How's he gonna play if I'm not talking to him? There was a stretch where he wasn't going to play and be out of the rotation, it was tough for him because he's a competitor. But after that, it wasn't really much."
Lue also confirmed he and owner Steve Ballmer have not contacted Paul since the decision, adding, "Yeah, I haven't heard from him either." He noted he was not involved in the waiver, directing questions to president Lawrence Frank.
In an interview with People magazine on Tuesday, Paul downplayed the drama: "I'm actually at peace with everything. More than anything, I'm excited about being around and getting a chance to play a small role in whatever anything looks like next." Paul, who signed with the Clippers intending to retire there after leading the team to success in past seasons, is now seeking a trade to a preferred destination where he can contribute meaningfully. He averaged a career-low in minutes this season, despite starting all 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs last year.
Potential landing spots include the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns. The Mavericks could benefit from Paul's veteran guidance for their young backcourt, including breakout star Ryan Nembhard. Paul remains eligible for a trade after December 15 and plans to finish the season with another team. In the meantime, he cherishes unexpected family time, including watching his son play basketball for the first time: "I have never seen my son play a game in person. Not a middle school game, not a high school game. So I'm excited about seeing him play."
The Clippers have gone 1-2 in the three games since waiving Paul, underscoring their ongoing challenges.