Around two months after he was sent home by the Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul's future is back in his own hands.
In early December, the struggling Clippers announced that they had dismissed Paul from the team, just months after he had re-united with his longtime squad in free agency and weeks after he confirmed the 2025-26 season would be his last. It wasn't until Wednesday, ahead of the trade deadline, that Los Angeles made its parting of ways with Paul official.
Paul was traded to the Toronto Raptors in a deal that also sends Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets, per Shams Charania. However, the Raptors are reportedly not expected to require Paul to join the team, as they will "still discuss trades involving him over the next day," and he could also be a buyout candidate.
The 40-year-old doesn't have too much left in the tank, with just months left in his NBA career. But he could still bring some limited playmaking and leadership to a title contender, depending where he's interested in going.
Here are a few teams that could pursue Paul in his final NBA season.
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Chris Paul landing spots
Los Angeles Lakers
Fourteen years after the NBA stepped in to prevent a Chris Paul-Lakers trade, could it finally be time for him to don the purple and gold?
What if the NBA didn’t veto the trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers https://t.co/Dzr3X3Vzpz pic.twitter.com/MlULC2JSGt
— Robo (@RoboKnowsBall) December 22, 2025
There's no guarantee that Paul will even want to join a new team — but if he does, it's extremely likely that he narrows his focus to a select group of fits. A Western Conference contender seems like the ideal fit for Paul, if there is one, as he wouldn't have to travel far from Los Angeles and would have a chance to contend for a title in his final days in the NBA.
Given those potential circumstances, it's hard to argue that the Lakers aren't the easiest team to bring in Paul for a few months. Of course, there's the connection with LeBron James. Somehow, the two veterans have yet to play together despite being known friends. Now both over 40 years old, it could finally be the time for James and CP3 to share a court together.
Los Angeles already has a solidified top of its guard rotation between Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart. But it would make a bit of sense for the Lakers, who are also led by Paul's former teammate in J.J. Redick, to add a pass-first guard to run the offense in limited spurts when Doncic is off the court.
The Lakers would have to make room for Paul (and Bronny James certainly won't be the sacrifice there), but the "Point God" could probably contribute similar numbers to what Nick Smith Jr. has brought over 24 games (5.8 points and 1.1 assists in 12.5 minutes per game).
There's more reasons off the court for the Lakers to pursue Paul than on the court — they don't necessarily need a 40-year-old guard who was averaging 2.9 points and 3.3 assists this season. But between the James-Paul pairing, Paul staying in Los Angeles, his Redick connection and the ability to help lead the Lakers toward title contention, there are plenty reasons for this to finally happen.
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Houston Rockets
Again, regardless of where he goes, Paul won't be expected to become a consistent part of a team's rotation. He'll likely prioritize ring-chasing and a role where he can contribute his voice, and the Houston Rockets could give him that chance.
The Rockets never really replaced Fred VanVleet after he went down with his season-ending injury before the season. They don't have a traditional point guard in their rotation — and they may not need one with center Alperen Sengun averaging 6.3 assists and 6-foot-7 guard Amen Thompson adding another 5.5 per game.
However, Paul has spent time in Houston before, and there could be a fit for him to take on a small role as a playmaker off the Rockets' bench to conclude the 2025-26 season.
Houston is eyeing championship contention thanks to its offseason trade for Kevin Durant, but Ime Udoka doesn't have much of a pass-first guard at his disposal. Guard is a bit of a weakness for the Rockets, even if they've masked it with all their height and versatility.
Paul hasn't played in Houston since 2018-19, but a return could be in the cards if the Rockets are interested in a veteran voice.
Dwyane Wade suggests that the Rockets should get Chris Paul:
“They need a conductor. They need a guy who can play with bigs. They need a quarterback. Chris Paul out there. They need a veteran. Just throwing that out there. These are all the things that Chris Paul does well.”… pic.twitter.com/WsfNHS7O7s
— CP3REGION (@CP3REGION) January 16, 2026
Denver Nuggets
There aren't as many personal connections for Paul in the Nuggets organization. He's never played in Denver and doesn't have any known close relationships with current players or coaches. But if the Nuggets learned anything from Nikola Jokic's recent absence due to injury, maybe it's the fact that they could use secondary playmaking as insurance.
Jokic, averaging 10.5 assists this season, recently made a return to the floor after a month-plus-long absence. Jamal Murray has led the offense without him, averaging 25.6 points and 7.5 assists per game, but it wouldn't hurt to bring in Paul as a last-resort playmaker in the case of another Jokic injury.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown and Christian Braun would certainly have more minutes than Paul in Denver, but the Nuggets are another franchise eyeing a championship that he could join in the coming days.
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San Antonio Spurs
Paul's reunion with the Clippers last offseason didn't work out. So what if he just goes back to his prior team?
The San Antonio Spurs have a loaded guard rotation of De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper. Paul wouldn't be needed on the floor much, if at all, in San Antonio. But he has already proven to be a trusted voice in the Spurs organization, as he played all 82 games for the Spurs in 2024-25 while helping guide a young core headlined by Castle and Victor Wembanyama.
Now, the Spurs have made the leap from rebuilding to title contention, winners of 33 of their first 49 games this season. By trading for or signing Paul, he could once again step in as a veteran leader for the upcoming postseason as the Spurs try to make a leap back to the top of the Western Conference.
Great moment between Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama after the Spurs clinch the NBA Cup Finals berth pic.twitter.com/SWtOhSH4p4
— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) December 14, 2025