The Clippers’ season just took another unexpected turn - and not in the direction anyone in Los Angeles was hoping for. In a move that sent shockwaves through the NBA, the team has officially parted ways with Chris Paul, ending what was meant to be a storybook reunion before it ever really got off the ground.
Paul, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason to return to the franchise where he built his legacy, was supposed to be the steadying force on a team loaded with veteran talent. Instead, the Clippers have stumbled out of the gate with a 5-16 record, and the optimism that surrounded Paul’s return has quickly evaporated. What was supposed to be a final chapter for one of the greatest point guards of his generation has turned into a cautionary tale about fit, timing, and organizational chaos.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about wins and losses. This Clippers team has looked disjointed from the jump.
The chemistry is off, the rotations are a mess, and Paul - once the engine of this franchise - found himself relegated to a bench role that never seemed to suit him. Add in the cloud of a league investigation into potential salary cap circumvention and the looming reality that their first-round pick is already owed to Oklahoma City, and the situation in the Intuit Dome has gone from concerning to downright bleak.
And now, just days after Paul publicly announced that this would be his final NBA season, the Clippers have made the stunning decision to cut ties with one of their most iconic players. It’s a move that feels cold, even if it’s rooted in practicality.
Paul started all 82 games just last season and proved he could still be effective in the right role. This isn’t a player hanging on past his prime - this is a veteran who, in the right environment, can still elevate a team.
That’s what makes this next part so intriguing.
Paul now hits the market again, and the timing couldn’t be more convenient for a team like the Denver Nuggets. The defending champs have been quietly in the market for a backup point guard since Russell Westbrook’s departure, and Paul fits the bill almost perfectly. He’s the kind of veteran floor general who can stabilize a second unit, manage tempo, and keep things running smoothly when the starters sit.
Denver doesn’t need CP3 to be the superstar he once was - they just need him to be smart, steady, and efficient in 10-15 minute bursts. And if there’s one thing Paul has mastered over the years, it’s maximizing possessions and making the right play.
He’s not going to take over games anymore, but he doesn’t need to. He just needs to keep the offense humming and avoid the kind of turnovers and chaos that can swing a playoff game.
The Nuggets still have an open roster spot, and their need for a veteran point guard hasn’t changed. Paul, now a free agent again, has a chance to close out his Hall of Fame career on a contending team that could actually use what he brings to the table. It’s not the ending he envisioned when he signed with the Clippers, but it might just be the one he deserves.
For now, all eyes are on what comes next. The Clippers are left searching for answers in a season that’s quickly spiraling, while Paul - even at this late stage - might still have one more run left in him.