Eight years after leaving the Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul could potentially rejoin the franchise that he helped reinvigorate.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Lawrence Frank, the Clippers president of basketball operations, said that the organization is “strongly considering” bringing back the Point God on the heels of signing Bradley Beal.
Beal agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract with Los Angeles following a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns. With Beal now on the roster, the 20-year veteran Paul, who is a free agent, could make his return to the Clippers.
“What I’d say about Chris is he’s a great player,” Frank said when asked if the Clippers will sing Pual. “He’s a great Clipper. He obviously possesses some of the qualities we [are looking for]. And, of course, we’re strongly, strongly considering him.”
Paul joined Los Angeles leading up the 2011-12 season, ultimately guiding the Clippers to at least 51 wins in five of his six seasons there. As a franchise, Los Angeles has won 50 or more games just seven times. He ranks first in franchise history with 4,023 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
The Clippers, though, never advanced beyond the Western Conference semifinals with Paul at the helm. In his career, Paul has reached the NBA Finals just once (in 2021 with the Phoenix Suns) and appeared in the conference finals twice, including in 2018 as a member of the Houston Rockets.
With Beal now a Clipper — as well as the signings of John Collins and Brook Lopez and re-signing of James Harden — perhaps Paul could help Los Angeles advance to the franchise’s first Finals appearance.
A 12-time All-Star, Paul has been named All-NBA 11 times, including four times as a first-team selection — three while with the Clippers.
He has averaged 17 points and 9.2 assists throughout his Hall of Fame career, which has spanned seven teams, most recently with the San Antonio Spurs this past season. He has also averaged two steals per contest, which ranks 13th all-time in NBA history.
–Field Level Media
