THOUGHTS | CHRIS PAUL GETS SENT HOME

Chris Paul has unofficially retired from the NBA after being waived by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Now, sure — he could still resurface with another team to retire with grace and dignity. But seriously… who did he piss off to deserve this kind of treatment?

That was the first thing that struck me. I know Chris Paul has the mind of a winner, but I also know he has the kind of mouth that can drive teammates insane. With his minutes getting slashed, the Clippers sinking into the Western Conference gutter, and the overall lack of urgency from the squad, it really feels like he did something to anger both his teammates and management.

This is the same team that has already run off a bunch of players — including Russell Westbrook and Paul George. They’ve had the “Bradley Beal effect” hit their roster too. And who can forget the season-opening fiasco with Kawhi Leonard and his fake corporation? With all those egos needing to be checked, the last thing they needed was someone with Gary Payton-level trash-talking energy affecting the locker room morale.

However, part of me thinks this might’ve been CP3 asking out. Pure speculation, of course, but his history speaks for itself. I still remember that chaotic incident when the Clippers tried to storm DeAndre Jordan’s house, sending Mark Cuban into meltdown mode. And on the flip side, I also remember how Tony Parker and the Spurs drove Kawhi Leonard insane to the point of no return.

Regardless, for the Clippers to leave Chris Paul in a situation like this is crazy. It genuinely feels like he became a liability — or was treated like one.

When Paul first joined the Clippers, the appeal was obvious: he’d already shown he could work well with James Harden, and he was one of the most beloved figures in franchise history. But Houston eventually brought in Westbrook because they felt the Harden–Paul pairing had reached its ceiling. Now, in a weird way, this waiver might actually save Chris Paul’s final season.

It’s bleak, yes, but fans are already clamoring for him to return either to Phoenix or Oklahoma City. Say what you want about his personality — he made those teams better. OKC doesn’t need him, but they can easily absorb him since they’re complete across the board. If the Thunder go back-to-back, they will help Paul finally win a championship. Phoenix, meanwhile, could use him in a more defined, impactful role. And the Suns currently have two “villains” in Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen playing the best basketball of their careers. Add Devin Booker openly welcoming Paul back? It makes too much sense.

They may not win a championship with him, but at least Paul would finish his career with a team that actually wants him — unlike the Clippers, who basically dumped him on the curb.

All in all, Chris Paul is a bona fide legend. He will unfortunately go down as one of the best players in league history to never win a title, but oddly enough, this waiver might have saved him from sinking with a Clippers organization that keeps spiraling deeper into dysfunction.