5:49pm: The signing is official, according to a Clippers press release relayed by Mark Medina of Sportskeeda (Twitter link).
“He is joining us as a reserve point guard and is excited to fill whatever role (coach Tyronn Lue) asks him to play,” president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in the statement.
10:13am: Chris Paul is returning to Los Angeles, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link), who hears from the point guard’s representatives at CAA that Paul has agreed to sign with the Clippers for what will likely be his last season.
It will be a one-year, minimum-salary deal for Paul, per NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
Paul received interest from a number of teams during free agency, but was known to be prioritizing an opportunity to play close to his family in Los Angeles. He reportedly rebuffed interest from Eastern Conference suitors like the Bucks and Hornets, as well as non-West Coast clubs like the Mavericks. The Clippers and Suns were long viewed as the most likely landing spots for the future Hall of Famer.
Paul, who turned 40 in May, spent six seasons with the Clippers from 2011-17 during what was arguably the most successful stretch of his NBA career. He received MVP and Defensive Player of the Year votes in each of his first five seasons in Los Angeles and was an All-Defensive first-teamer in all six years. He also made five consecutive All-Star teams and earned five All-NBA nods (three first-team and two second-team) in his first go-round as a Clipper.
While Paul is no longer in his prime, he started every game for San Antonio last season, marking just the second time in his 20 NBA seasons that he has made 82 regular season appearances. The former Wake Forest standout averaged a career-low 8.8 points per game for the Spurs, but contributed 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per night while making 37.7% of his three-point attempts and 92.4% of his free throws.
Paul has started 1,314 of his 1,354 career NBA games, with all 40 of those appearances off the bench coming in Golden State in 2023/24. It’s unclear if he’ll get a chance to be part of the starting five in L.A. next season, with James Harden, Bradley Beal, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and defensive ace Kris Dunn all in the backcourt mix as well.
Still, having Paul on the roster further solidifies the depth chart for a Clippers team that has made several notable veteran additions with limited resources this offseason. The club split its mid-level exception on Beal and Brook Lopez, traded Norman Powell for John Collins, and will now bring Paul aboard on a minimum-salary contract.
Once their signing of Paul is complete, the Clippers will have 14 players on guaranteed standard contracts. They won’t have enough breathing room below their first tax apron hard cap to add another veteran-minimum player before the season begins.
Lob city is back!!!
I don’t think they even have a true lob threat on this roster lol.
Them days are gone for most of these guys.
Zubac can dunk lobs.
I really want to see how Collins will handle lobs but I forget if he ever did that with Trae young or not
Also harden/cp3 would’ve won a championship if not for golden state so this could be a really good chemistry formula
They don’t call the man John the Baptist for nothing. Just been playing in Utah. Collins got ups.
Lob city never got out of the 2nd round lol.
Sold some shirts though. I the celtics fan even ended up with one via a friend for a birthday. Pretty sure it’s Dads Army in 2025.
Ironically, they have a draft stash, Ismael Kamagate, who could fill that role if they use the very slim amount left under the first apron following the Paul signing. It’s highly unlikely they fill that 15th roster spot any time soon, though.
Clippers offer John Collins, Zubac, picks and cash to the Lakers for LeBron James and LeBron Jr
This might be the dumbest trade suggestion that I have seen on this site, and that’s really saying something. Is 40 year old LeBron supposed to be playing center minutes in this scenario? Because you just traded your entire starting frontcourt for a player that can’t be full time during the regular season anymore.
Wake up csual. Brook Lopez would be starting at C not LeBron. Your response might be the dumbest I have seen on this site. PG. Harden SG. Beal SF. Leonard PF. LeBron C. Lopez. Go away K-kid
Obviously you’re the casual if you watched any basketball last year. Brook Lopez was played off the floor by the Pacers in the playoffs. He is no longer a starting center in this league and is not as mobile or young or athletic as Zu and Collins. Having Brook try to play 40 minute a game all season would be a disaster.
All of you probably couldn’t even tell me anything before LeBron James was drafted. Only unknowledgeable people throw out insults when they cannot comprehend
Who said Lopez would play 40 minutes a night? You all make things up and run with it
@Luker – Who else is playing minutes at the 5 if you get rid of Collins and Zubac? Yanic Konan Niederhauser? So if Lopez cannot play 40 minutes a game, and you are trying to win in the playoffs, who will be playing the 5 for the Clippers when Lopez is sitting? That’s right, it would have to be 40 year old LeBron banging it out with guys like Jokic, AD, Wemby, Mark Williams, etc. Not the best way to abuse LeBron like that. He won’t be able to play through that many games like that.
It seemed obvious (at least to me) that the Collins and Zubac trade for Lebron/Bronny was a joke.
I don’t know if it is the all time dumbest suggestion. This site is full of dumb trade suggestions by people who know players only for their highlights and don’t know anything about basketball or the salary cap. But, yeah, that is a moronic trade suggestion,
Don’t forget we are talking about the Clippers :)
Big name players are a thing for them. Even if they are injury prone.
Commercially the Clippers would sell a lot of jerseys…
But I just dont see it happening :)
Thanks Wannes for being realistic and not having to throw a tiny rude side comment. Yeah I agree I don’t see it happening. I did say in another post in an older story on hoop rumors that it will not happen but this is an good idea for the clippers to win
@captain
You mean the same LBJ that played in 70 games and logged 35 minutes a game last year? That was more than Jaylen Brown, Giannis and Shai. Do you even think about what you say before you say it?
Shai played in 76 games and played 154 more minutes than Lebron last year.
Zubac has more value in a trade as a player than LeBron. Great contract, borderline all-NBA (I’d vote for him over Harden) and was the biggest reason LAC won 50 games last season.
Same as Bane, who had a lot more trade value than KD.
Peter you disappoint me here because I find you one of the few that knows what he is talking about (maybe 12 total). Zubac is more valuable than LeBron? I am a LeBron hater but what? Zubac’s….oh yeah everyone and their mom knows who he is and his greatness. What has he done again?
The Bane trade was the worst thing Memphis was the dumbest move by any team this off-season
I’m taking on three people right here but I’m right
Le Bron is a part time, old age pensioner player now. Defence is what goes around Degarden for him. Yeah, he was great, but it’s 2025 Luje
Zubac is a great center but he can’t be the best or second best player in a championship caliber team. LBJ still can. Don’t get that confused.
At least you are knowledgeable KnicksFanCavsFan. These 2k lovers are too much
Teams without players like LeBron or Jokic have won championships in the past.
Also, this statement belongs on boring ESPN, not on this forum:
“Zubac is a great center but he can’t be the best or second best player in a championship caliber team.”
“Middleton is a great player but he can’t be the best or second best player in a championship caliber team.” And there were players with even less status, like Jordan Poole, who had massive contributions to championships.
That’s an awful trade offer lol
Harden AND Paul = not seeing the second round.
CP is 40 year old back up at this point. Not fair at all to put playoff expectations on his performance.
Davey has a personal vendetta against Paul. Ignore the troll.
Davey J will literally deep throat anything warriors but can’t fathom any other teams being solid.
WRONG, Davey J. Clippers are freaking LOADED top to bottom now.
Loaded with senior citizens lol should have built around Zubac and Powell
They did (Collins is 4 years younger than Powell).
They turned Powell into John Collins and Bradley Beal. Despite what you may think, Beal is the same age as Powell and he is a better player.
Better player is a stretch. The combination of Collins and Beal is definitely better than just Beal replacing Powell. Powell should’ve been an all-star. Beal didn’t even sniff it.
I also think Powell is a better defender
Don’t assume Davey J knows anything about basketball. He’s just a warriors fan not a basketball fan.
At least he knows the KD-draymond rift and how rookie SGA might have ended the original dub dynasty
These Clippers are like a team of old-timers getting together to play softball and drink a case of beer. As an old fart myself, I’ll be rooting for them.
Clippers better hope they are all healthy, otherwise OKC gets another 1st round pick from LAC.
“OKC will receive the two most / more favorable of its 2026 1st round pick, HOU’s 2026 1st round pick protected for selections 1-4 and the LAC’ 2026 1st round pick and WAS will receive the least / less favorable of these; if the HOU pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then HOU will instead convey its 2026 2nd round pick to OKC”
The Clippers already owed OKC their first next year unprotected at the last piece of the Paul George trade. The Thunder have just traded the least favorable of like all their five first round picks to a different team. That’s what all that language is. The Clippers straight up do not have a first round pick next year, no matter where they end up in the standings.
Yea but it hurts less when that pick is in the middle/late first round rather than in the lottery.
Yeah, I just read it’s unprotected. Oh dear….
2nd team back up PG. He is at the point of his career just hoping to get lucky and get a ring.
TEAMS IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE THAT SCARE THE HECK OUT OF ME, AS OF THE MORNING OF 7/21/25
(RANKED)
1. NUGGETS
2. THUNDER
3. CLIPPERS
4. ROCKETS
5. MAVERICKS
6. LAKERS
7. WOLVES
8. WARRIORS (still expecting them to move up at least a few notches eventually)
Why do the Lakers, Clippers, Rockets and Mavs scare you? Steph, Dray and Jimmy are cooking all those teams next year.
I’d like to know exactly what GSW can do and who can they get if they let Kuminga walk. From what I can gather, they will be able to pay someone $14M and another around $6M from their exemptions. On top of that they will be able to get more veterans who want slightly more than the vet mins. OR can GSW and CHI trade Kuminga for Giddey?
You’ve gotta be as unbiased as possible when making these types of lists. Dubs have two highly inexperienced centers, and the clock is ticking with Draymond – in more ways than one, you could say. That’s why I’ve been pushing for MDJ to trade him NOW while he still has good value.
If anything, Draymond has been pretty much the same player since 2018-19 and his VORP stats back that up. That IQ will keep him what he is for much longer than you think. You are undervaluing his top 5 NBA IQ here. That has not declined, it can’t.
GSW need bigs, that is true. Or they need Kuminga and Horford. If they lose Kuminga they can bring in a well-paid big to even out the roster. It’s not too worrisome, especially when you know they can make moves in-season. A full season of Jimmy and Steph will make all these naysayers look foolish. They ended the year 24-8 and basically have the same roster.
“Steph, Dray and Jimmy are cooking all those teams next year.” yeah on the pickle ball court in the retirement home.
Harden ran Chris out of town in Houston. Has to be weird coming to Clippers to be his backup. The Franchise you help put on the map.
CP3 will help most in the playoffs. He adds depth to Clippers. Which is always a good thing. He will pay dividends most in the playoffs. Health is what all teams need. Especially the Clippers, Sixers.
Clippers are a playoff team. They should be better than last yrs team. Crazy that in 2026 we are still hoping Kawhi will stay healthy. CP3 had a great career. Good to see it end where it all started for him.
Even though CP3 is an ex-Clipper, I am surprised the Lakers never came up in trade talks.
The lakers tried to trade for CP3 once before lol
He may have gotten run out of H-town but that Paull/Harden squad had the KD Warriors on the ropes in the 2018 western conference finals. If not for Paul injuring his hamstring and missing 2 games the Rockets win that series.
No they weren’t. 2018 Warriora were still winning that series with or without injuries.
That Rockets team was injury free the next year and the Warriors owned them.
That 2018 series went to a game 7 despite Paul missing 2 games and the Rockets were in that game 7 despite having a historically bad shooting performance from 3. Anyone who says the Warriors would definitely have still won that series if Paul plays in all 7 games is delusional. What happened in 2019 does not prove anything. Even so the Warriors did not “own them” – the 2019 series went 6 games and all the games were close.
No you’re delusional. Warriors still would have won the series, which they did lol. Chris Paul has always been a playoff choker.
And the 2019 series proves what would have happened if both teams were healthy.
Correction: KD missed game 6 in 2019 and Warriors still won. How do you explain that? Rockets never had a chance against KD Warriors.
The point was that 2019 doesn’t prove anything about 2018. Different years, different teams, different results. Just like 2015 did not prove anything about the Cavs (without Kyrie and Love) versus Warriors.
Of course it proves everything. Your injury excuse in 2018 proves that it wouldn’t have mattered anyway when the same rosters faced eachother in 2019.
Warriors won either way. Rockets lost in both scenarios. Injuries are part of the game. Keep making excuses.
So according to your theory that everything is proven forever by one series in one year, then if OKC and the T-Wolves reach the western conference finals next year they should just call it off and give OKC the series, right?
What are going on about? I’ve already said your injury excuse don’t matter when the same teams in 2019 played eachother healthy and Warriors still won.
Warriors won both times and Rockets as usual lost. Keep whining.
I get it. You don’t understand the concepts of time and change and their role in human performance.
I don’t go by hypotheticals. Would have, could have, should have. You play who is in front of you.
Warriors won, Rockets lost. Keep making excuses.
If, if, if, if.
Warriors have the trophy to cancel your if
Houston wasn’t beating the warriors then no matter what happened. Hell they couldn’t even beat them last year despite the warriors being geriatric. Enough already.
Just to clarify, the Clippers is not “where it all started” for CP3. It all started with the Hornets. He’d been in the league for 6 seasons before he suited up for the Clippers.
Brett Siegel reporting the Warriors have handshake agreements in place with Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton, and will be signing both once the Kuminga situation is resolved.
With that roster the clippers are well on their way of winning the 2021 championship
Even then…CP3 and Harden are pure curses to a title. You will never win with them on your roster.
LAL too
LAC are just a Time Machine away from one of the best teams in NBA history.
LAL too
Best of luck cp3. Crazy that he’s teammates with Beal lol
The Clippers think it’s 2015.
LAC is a play-in team so far for next season… league is getting younger and they are getting older!
Do the Clips have room under the apron for a rookie (or second year) minimum contract? You only need to carry 14, but they could pro-rate a contract and pick someone up later.
They could just barely sign a rookie minimum deal, but it would have to be a player they have the draft rights for and it would leave them with basically no room below the first apron. I expect they’ll carry 14 into the season and add a 15th man down the road.
That basically limits it to Ismael Kamagate. I thought they could offer it to an Exhibit 10 player or eventually upgrade a two-way.
They could promote a two-way if it was someone they drafted (Kobe Sanders qualifies).
The rule is designed to have teams avoid signing rookie free agents over veterans solely for financial reasons. A rookie free agent would only count against the CAP for the rookie minimum, but would count as the vet minimum for tax/apron purposes. Whereas a rookie second-rounder would count for the rookie minimum for cap, tax, AND apron purposes.
cp3 will definitely make john collins a better player, excited to see if collins can make some improvements.
Paul doesn’t even fit this version of the Clippers unless he’s committing to playing 18 minutes a night to setup the offense for their bench scorers. Harden? Needs the ball to create. Leonard? Needs the ball to create. Paul can’t play with those two, he isn’t a good enough spot up shooter. He works with Lopez and Collins, though. Coach Lue will figure out the roles but Paul better be ready to sit.
Disclaimer: this assumes Harden stays in shape rather than dining out on $500 meals all offseason.