Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul Clippers breakup, Ty Lue, Lawrence Frank, Chris Paul retirement, Chris Paul future, Kawhi Leonard
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Dwyane Wade recently drew back the curtain on what happened in the ugly breakup between Chris Paul and the Clippers in his final NBA season.
The Los Angeles Clippers sent Chris Paul home less than a quarter of the way through the season, in what was supposed to be his farewell tour, and Paul’s friend and Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade believes he knows why.
Speaking on his podcast, The Timeout, Wade pulled back the curtains on his conversation with Paul, revealing how his breakup with his former (and nowkind of current) Clippers team unfolded.
“Just even listening to the conversation last night, Idon’t feel like there was clear communication about this whole entire CP coming back to the Clippers,”Wade said. “When I say communication, it has to be ownership, it has to be front office, it has to be coaches, star players.”
Though Paul returned to Los Angeles over the summer in whatis expected to be his final season, the team sent him home after a recent road trip.Issues stemming fromPaul’s clashes with head coach Tyronn Lue and the front office reportedlywere abig factor in his dismissal, despite denials from both the coach and team president Lawrence Frank.
Dwyane Wade On Ugly CP3 and Clippers Breakup
Upon hearing the news, Paul posted on social media, writing, “Just found outI’m being sent home,”a signal that, like the rest of the NBA world, he was shocked that the Clippers were cutting ties with him in his 21st season.
In referencing his conversation with Paul, Wade reiterated that he believed a lack of communication played amajor role in the ugly breakup between the two parties.
“We all communicate that this is a good idea. Andwe’re all on board for this. So Idon’t feel like it was great communication,”Wade added, in reference to Pauloriginally signing with the Clippers over the summer, following a report stating James Hardendidn’t think it was the right move. “Idon’t feel like everyone was on board for this, or else itwouldn’t have cut the way it cut. Somebodydidn’t want this [expletive] to happen anyway.”
Wade went on to say that he believes the internal structure of the Clippers organization played a part. While there have been no confirmations of who pulled the trigger to endPaul’s extremely brief tenure with the franchise, the three-time champion assumed someone had to be behind calling the shot.
“Somewhere, some line, somebody was like,‘Idon’t really, nope.‘Andthey’ve got some power, and some say,”he added. “So when they went to the place of ‘I’m uncomfortable with howyou’re trying to hold us accountable, I want you out of here.‘Whoever that is.”
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Chris Paul and his leadership style clashed with the Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Paul has been vocal in holding management, coaches and players accountable, which the team felt became disruptive. Specifically: Ty Lue was not on speaking terms with Paul for several weeks.
Since leaving the team, Paul has been working out at home, reportedly in hopes of findinghimself on a new NBA roster.
ChrisPaul’s Uncertain Future In The NBA
While multiple teams have beentied to Paul since his forcedClippers’ departure, a recent report from Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN detailed how the point guard actually made an effort to rejoin the team.
Per her reporting, after being ‘stunned‘at the decision, Paul tried to use his relationship with fellow veteran Brook Lopez to get back into good graces with the Clippers.
“Paul was stunned, sources said, and tried to plead his case. At one point, he brought teammateBrook Lopez into the room as something of a character witness,”Shelbourne wrote. “Lopez and [Kawhi] Leonard werePaul’s most ardent supporters on the team.”
Paul was alwayssupposed to have a minimal role with the Clippers, but there was an unspoken expectation that he would quietly end his careeron the team he spent six seasons with, but that obviously did not come to fruition. While still on the official roster,Paul’s future andhow his NBA careerwill end is still very uncertain.
“I don’t even like him that much,”a source told Shelbourne of the breakup. “But thisisn’t a G League guy.This is Chris Paul. There’s ways to do it where he can save a little face.”
Though a few of theClippers’ players and Paul himself seemed interested in mending the relationship,it was reportedly torn between the point guard and the coaching staff and front office.
While Paul hasbeen linked to a few contending teamslike the Timberwolves, Rockets, and Knicks, Shelbourne reported that he hopesto find a way to finally cut ties with the Clippers after this brutal saga.