The Los Angeles Clippers suddenly cut ties with guard Chris Paul. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers don’t do storybook endings.
Look up to the Intuit Dome rafters, and there are no championship banners or retired jerseys. The franchise’s distant history is littered with losing seasons, and its more recent years have been consumed by postseason meltdowns. Donald Sterling, the Clippers’ longtime owner, was forced out after his mistress released tapes of his racist comments. Blake Griffin, their popular No. 1 draft pick, was blindsided by a trade to the Detroit Pistons just months after he signed a contract extension. Doc Rivers, their highest-profile coach, was cast aside mere days after they blew a 3-1 series lead against the Denver Nuggets in one of the most epic playoff collapses in NBA history.