Chris Paul Will Reunite With Clippers Earlier than He Retires

The Los Angeles Clippers might quickly see a well-recognized face return, as workforce president Lawrence Frank affirmed they’re “strongly, strongly considering” signing veteran level guard Chris Paul to fill out their 2025–26 NBA roster.

Paul is 40 years outdated and is a free agent who allegedly needs to return to Los Angeles, the place he spent six seasons from 2011 to 2017. He already introduced that this might be his final NBA season.

Chris Paul Reunion With Clippers Could Happen Soon

Paul remains to be one of many league’s prime ground generals. In his final season with the San Antonio Spurs, he performed a beginning function in all 82 video games and scored 11.7 factors and 6.4 assists per recreation. Although Paul has mentioned he prefers to begin, the Clippers’ current guard rotation that features James Harden and newly acquired Bradley Beal would possibly limit his enjoying time.

Despite this, Paul’s basketball IQ, management skills, and long-standing affiliation with the Clippers make him a beautiful alternative. Frank mentioned that Chris is all the time the man they actually respect.

“What I’d say about Chris is he’s a great player, he’s a great Clipper. He obviously possesses some of the qualities we just referenced. Of course, we’re strongly, strongly considering him,” Frank mentioned, through Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.

The Clippers’ roster shouldn’t be but finalized. The administration remains to be in search of the 14th man to finish the lineup.

Cap Constraints Shape the Clippers’ Options

The Clippers are working with slim funds. They’re $3.57 million in need of the first-apron laborious cap and must fill two spots on the roster. With the restrictions in thoughts, any addition, together with Paul, can be on a veteran minimal deal.

Clippers’ Biggest Trade This Offseason

The Clippers’ chase of Chris Paul comes after a difficult summer time. According to Dallas Hoops Journal, the large additions are Bradley Beal, a long-sought goal.

Frank mentioned that Los Angeles tried to commerce Beal twice beforehand, however they realized he might do higher when paired with Norman Powell.

Frank said that Beal’s camp, represented by agent Mark Bartelstein, even had a half-hour name with James Harden earlier than closing the deal.

The roster additionally added Brook Lopez and John Collins for dimension and suppleness to the frontcourt. Frank mentioned that this might give Ty Lue extra lineup choices for various rotations.

Harden’s Contract Paves the Way

A whole lot of the Clippers’ roster development success this offseason was made attainable by Harden selecting to stroll away from the cap room on the desk. Frank credited Harden’s selflessness in enabling the workforce to take the complete $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, a luxurious no workforce had this offseason.

Will CP3 Come Home?

Whether Chris Paul takes the final roster spot or not goes to be as much as whether or not he’s keen to develop into a complementary piece and whether or not the Clippers want that veteran chief and playmaker depth.

Since he has no place within the San Antonio Spurs anymore with De’Aaron Fox because the chief in guards, returning to the Clippers for one final championship run sounds possible.