Chris Paul’s Clippers Exit Raises Questions-But Not for the Suns
Chris Paul’s time with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to a sudden and surprising end. The veteran point guard, a future Hall of Famer and one of the most cerebral floor generals the game has ever seen, was waived midseason-reportedly while the team was on an Eastern Conference road trip.
For a player of his stature, it’s a jarring exit. But as the NBA world digests the news, one question rises above the rest: should the Phoenix Suns bring him back?
On the surface, the idea has a certain poetic symmetry. Paul’s most sustained team success may have come in L.A., but it was in Phoenix where he authored one of the most memorable chapters of his career-leading the Suns to the NBA Finals and helping redefine the culture in The Valley. If there’s a fitting place for his career to come full circle, it’s hard to argue against Phoenix.
But sentimentality doesn’t win games, and the Suns are in no position to take a nostalgia tour.
Why the Suns Should Stay the Course
Let’s start with the obvious: Chris Paul is 40 years old. While his basketball IQ remains elite, his physical limitations are increasingly apparent-especially on the defensive end.
The Suns, under head coach Jordan Ott, have built an identity around pace, defensive intensity, and a rotation that’s finally starting to click. It’s not just that Paul doesn’t fit that system anymore-it’s that the team has already found players who do.
Collin Gillespie, for one, has emerged as a revelation. He’s not just holding down the starting point guard role-he’s thriving in it.
Gillespie has brought energy, composure, and a surprising edge to the Suns’ backcourt. He’s earned his minutes, and inserting Paul into the rotation would only cut into that momentum.
Gillespie’s rise has also created a domino effect: Jamaree Bouyea has stepped up to fill the backup role, while Jordan Goodwin has carved out a niche as a reliable third-string option.
And here’s the thing-those guys are producing. They’re defending, pushing the tempo, and playing with a hunger that’s contagious.
Goodwin, in particular, has shown he can impact both ends of the floor in ways that Paul simply can’t at this stage. The Suns didn’t expect to be in the playoff mix this season, but here they are-defying expectations and building something sustainable.
Disrupting that for a sentimental reunion doesn’t make basketball sense.
Booker’s Silence Speaks Volumes
If there were any internal momentum for a Paul return, you’d expect Devin Booker to be the one driving it. After all, the two shared a strong on-court connection during their run to the Finals.
But there’s been no indication-public or private-that Booker is lobbying for a reunion. When the front office had a chance to bring Paul back earlier, nothing materialized.
That silence is telling.
There’s no doubt Paul deserves a proper sendoff. His leadership, vision, and competitive fire have left a mark on every franchise he’s touched.
But the Suns are focused on the future, not the past. They’ve got a young, hungry roster that’s starting to believe in itself.
And right now, belief might be the most valuable currency in the Western Conference.
Chris Paul may still have something left in the tank-but it’s not what Phoenix needs. Not anymore.