The Clippers made their move early. Too early, in hindsight.
Back in July, Los Angeles brought in Chris Paul-an all-time great, sure, but one clearly in the twilight of his career. The signing made headlines, tugged on nostalgia, and seemed like a feel-good reunion.
But the problem? It came at the cost of patience.
And that impatience may have cost the Clippers a real game-changer off the bench.
Because just a couple of months later, De’Anthony Melton hit the market. Same price range.
A fraction of the mileage. And now, he's turning heads in Golden State while the Clippers are left scrambling to fill Paul’s roster spot with names like Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Paul signed on July 21st.
Melton, still recovering from a torn ACL at the time, didn’t ink his deal until October 1st. Both landed contracts in the $2-3.5 million range.
But the impact? Night and day.
Paul never found his footing with the Clippers. He was ultimately sent home, a quiet ending to what was supposed to be a storybook return.
Meanwhile, Melton has become one of the most efficient and impactful bench guards in the league. The Warriors saw the long game.
They waited. They pounced.
And they might’ve landed the best value signing of the offseason.
Melton’s numbers don’t just look good-they tell a story. In 18 games, he’s putting up 11.0 points, 2.7 boards, and 1.4 steals in just over 20 minutes per night.
But those are just the season averages. Zoom in on January, and the picture sharpens: 15.1 points per game, 50% shooting from the field, and a blistering 43.5% from deep.
He’s been a key reason the Warriors have gone 6-2 to start the new year.
This isn’t just a hot streak-it’s a player stepping into a role and thriving. If Melton keeps this up over the next 47 games, don’t be surprised if his name starts surfacing in Sixth Man of the Year conversations. He’s been that good.
And that’s where the sting really sets in for the Clippers. They didn’t just miss out on a solid bench piece-they passed on a player who could’ve stabilized their second unit, taken pressure off James Harden, and added real two-way value. Instead, they went with the sentimental play in Paul, and now they’re left with a roster hole and a missed opportunity.
To be fair, the Clippers aren’t the only team that miscalculated. The Sixers brought in 39-year-old Kyle Lowry, who’s at least providing veteran leadership and mentorship to young guards like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
But Lowry’s still suiting up. Paul isn’t.
The Clippers' misstep just feels bigger. It wasn’t just about who they signed-it was about when. Had they waited, had they trusted that Melton’s recovery would get him back to form, they might have landed one of the most impactful bench guards in the league at a bargain.
Instead, Golden State played it smart. They saw the board, waited for the right move, and made it. Now, they’re reaping the rewards of a savvy signing, while the Clippers are left wondering what could’ve been.