Chris Paul’s Gorgeous Efficiency Shakes Up Clippers’ Dynamics

ATLANTA — LA Clippers stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard had been “shocked” once they discovered Wednesday morning that Chris Paul would not be their teammate.

The Clippers made the beautiful in a single day determination to half methods with Paul after a three-hour late-night dialog between Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and Paul on the crew resort in Atlanta.

Harden and Leonard could not consider their eyes once they noticed the information on their telephones.

“I am simply as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden mentioned Wednesday evening after the Clippers beat the Atlanta Hawks 115-92 to snap a five-game shedding streak. “Positively stunned me. However not simply Chris, it is rather a lot that we had been coping with. However that’s out of my arms. I obtained to give attention to what I obtained to give attention to and what I can management. I assume the entrance workplace felt that was the most effective determination for the group.”

Leonard mentioned he nearly needed to reread the information.

“It was surprising to me,” Leonard mentioned. “I assume that they had a dialog, and entrance workplace decided.”

Sources advised ESPN’s Shams Charania that Paul was not on talking phrases with Clippers coach Ty Lue for a number of weeks earlier than the veteran level guard’s abrupt ouster.

Paul and his management type clashed with Lue and the Clippers, in keeping with sources, who advised Charania that the 12-time All-Star was vocal in holding administration, coaches and gamers accountable. The Clippers believed Paul’s type had change into disruptive, sources advised Charania.

Frank mentioned Wednesday that the group’s determination to half with Paul didn’t stem from one remoted incident and that the perimeters had a couple of dialog earlier than Paul was knowledgeable he would not be part of the crew.

Lue was requested whether or not Paul’s departure helps the Clippers.

“I do not suppose it essentially helped our crew,” Lue mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s recreation. “I imply, I do not suppose the rationale why we’re 5-16 is due to CP’s play. I simply suppose that it wasn’t a great match for what he was in search of. Do I need to see CP exit like this? No, I’ve quite a lot of respect for him. He is been a buddy of mine over time, and you do not need to see an excellent exit like this.

“I am fairly positive he’ll discover one thing as a result of he is an excellent participant. [But] I did not need to see it finish like this.”

Paul, one of many best gamers in Clippers franchise historical past, will retire on the finish of this season, his twenty first within the NBA, sources advised Charania.

“Haven’t got a facet [in this],” Lue mentioned. “I do not prefer it. It simply did not work out like we thought it will. I do not prefer it for CP. It simply wasn’t a great match, and we understood that. It was a corporation [decision], they made the selection, and so transferring ahead, we obtained to see what we do.”

For now, the Clippers and Paul are in a holding sample, regardless of the guard being despatched house to Los Angeles. As a result of Paul signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract in July, he isn’t eligible to be traded till Dec. 15 on the earliest.

Waiving him outright is extra difficult. As a result of the Clippers are $1.3 million under the primary apron and should not allowed to exceed it in any transaction, they’re unable to signal a substitute except they convert two-way participant Kobe Sanders. By league guidelines, a crew just isn’t allowed to fall under 14 gamers for 14 consecutive days.

The Clippers and Paul might entertain a buyout of his remaining wage. Nevertheless, that might require a crew to have a roster spot to signal him. Of the ten groups with a spot obtainable, solely the Hawks should not impacted by the posh tax and apron.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks contributed to this report.