Speaking to reporters over Zoom on Saturday, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said the team is “strongly, strongly considering” signing free agent point guard Chris Paul (Twitter video link via Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints).
While the Clippers still have two open spots on their projected 15-man roster, they only have about $3.57MM in breathing room below their first-apron hard cap, which wouldn’t be enough to fit more than one veteran minimum contract before the season begins. As Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN tweets, the expectation is that adding ball-handling and play-making will be a goal for the Clippers as they consider options for that 14th roster spot.
Assuming he continues his career and plays a 21st NBA season in 2025/26, Paul is known to be prioritizing proximity to his family in Los Angeles, so the Clippers would be a logical match for him in that regard.
At least one report indicated he’d also like to continue to be a starter after starting all 82 games for San Antonio last season — that kind of role might be harder to come by with the Clippers in the wake of their Bradley Beal addition.
Here are a few more of Frank’s noteworthy comments from today’s presser:
- Frank spoke at length about the signing of Beal, which became official on Friday, noting that the team had twice tried to trade for the veteran shooting guard in the past (Twitter link via Law Murray of The Athletic). Secondary play-making and ball-handling are among the reasons the Clippers targeted Beal, according to Frank, who said he also believes the 32-year-old can be a positive contributor on defense (Twitter links via Murray). Additionally, Frank repeatedly referenced a desire to get Beal involved in hand-off actions, which was a strategy the Clippers used frequently with Norman Powell, tweets Murray.
- Mark Bartelstein, Beal’s agent, spoke to many people within the Clippers’ organization before his client committed to the team, including having a half-hour conversation with James Harden, according to Frank (Twitter link via Youngmisuk).
- Frank credited Harden for signing a contract that gave the Clippers enough wiggle room below the first apron to use their full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which allowed them to sign both Beal and free agent center Brook Lopez (Twitter link via Murray). The Clippers are one of just three teams – along with the Pistons and Lakers – to have used every dollar of the $14,104,000 MLE so far in 2025/26 (Portland could become the fourth, assuming Damian Lillard‘s deal is worth the full amount).
- Addressing the acquisitions of Lopez and John Collins, Frank explained that the Clippers made it a priority to add size in their frontcourt and wanted to bring in players with more diverse skill sets that could complement one another (Twitter link via Youngmisuk).
- Pointing out that the Clippers have 10 players who project to be rotation players, Frank acknowledged that head coach Tyronn Lue “usually” plays just nine. As the Clippers weigh their options for their 14th roster spot and set their rotation this fall, role definition and communication will be key, Frank said (Twitter link via Murray).
Didnt CP3 and Harden have a major falling out in Houston when they choked against the Warriors?
Choked = outplayed by the eventual NBA champions?
That’s my recollection
Actually they didnt choke, CP3 went down in game 4 with an ankle injury and never returned. At that point Harden and some role players were not going to beat Steph, KD, Klay thompson and draymond green. When draymond went down the warriors sukd too. You cant lose a top 2-3 player and expect to win the NBA playoffs conference final. As far as CP3 and Harden not getting along, there were heated argument on who should be running the offense late in games. The y were close in efficiency running the offense, slight edge to Harden. CP3 was used to being a better facillitator than Harden through his career, but he had slid a bit in his ability to create space off the dribble. CP3 always took better care of the ball, but he didnt create the passing lanes as well Harden could at his age. Can they play together? Probably not in the same backcourt at the same time. If CP3 played the non harden minutes it could lift the clippers bench. The other side is who loses minutes if they get CP3? Dunn? Derek JOnes jr? I am not liking that so much as they are the two best wing defenders not named Kawi and they put more energy into defense than Kawi. CP3 is a smart defender but he is small and doesnt move laterally so well any more. I am not even sure that Beal starts against some teams, matchups may favor better wing defense and beal plus harden might be overmatched against the best guard tandems. I think CP3 was a top 5 PG all time, a great facillitator who really took care of the ball better than any PG in history. But he is 40 and needs to realize he may only be good for 20 mins a game. Transition defense will be a weakness with him and harden ont he floor. Dunn and Derek Jones are the best transition defenders, if the clippers start getting attacked in transition, it will be tough to keep either CP3 or Beal in the game with harden without bringing in Derek Jones jr at SF.
I’m sorry but who do you think was a top 3 player? Harden? That guy isn’t even a top 20. He’s a joke, he was a joke then and he’s a joke now. He’s alienated every good teammate he’s ever had.
If you want some loser to ball hog and play iso for 40min while taking 15 free throws he flopped to get , yeah, Harden is your guy.
CP3 was a top 3 rotation player on the rockets or any team brings then down. Did you even watch the NBA playoffs this year? Top 3 players who went down: Tatum(C’s lost), Cavs lost Donovan mitchell a TOP 3 Rotation player, and the pacers lost halliburton. Warriors lost curry a TOP3 Rotation player. Nuggets had murray, Gordon playing hurt, they lost, though barely. You dont need a top 3 player to win buyt you do need YOUR TEAMS TOP 3 players. Hate apparently has an effect on reading comprehension.
If Paul goes to the Clippers, bet the house on a first round exit
The oldest team never wins.
Neither does the youngest, but sometimes it happens (Blazers and OKC). I dont think the Clippers will win it all but they should be competitive and who knows
Yeah but they also may break records for ‘load management’.
Only 1 team can win it all. The only thing any team should hope for is to make the playoffs. After that anything can happen. It’s all about health and timing.
Would be an interesting addition, but cp3 isnt a starter anymore he needs to come to terms with it
Retirement home may get even older.
Also considering Jonny Flynn.
can’t wait for the twenty games kawhi plays
I think the Clippers are trying to corner the market on surnames of four letters or less with Lue and Beal and now Paul.
This would be fun and kind of weird. Since it was Harden who ran Chris out of town, In Houston.
CP3 probably is his last year. He should end it with Clippers. He put them on the map.