There had been some speculation that Chris Paul could be moved by the Clippers on December 15, the day he became trade-eligible, but that did not occur. While Paul is no longer around the team after Los Angeles announced that it was “parting ways” with the franchise icon, the Clippers are working with his representatives to find Paul a new club that he finds desirable, writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Paul’s minimum-salary contract would theoretically be simple to trade from a mechanics standpoint, but a deal doesn’t appear imminent. Sources tell Fischer that it’s possible Paul might be included as part of a larger trade around the February 5 deadline. In that scenario, Paul could be waived by the team that acquires him, Fischer continues, which would allow the 40-year-old to pick a new destination as a free agent.
While the Lakers have been linked to Paul for years, Fischer has been “strongly advised” they aren’t expected to pursue the 11-time All-NBA point guard, who is in his 21st and final season. Houston could theoretically use backcourt depth, but Fischer hears the Rockets are content with their roster right now and likely won’t consider changes until late January due their proximity to the first apron, at which they’re hard-capped.
Here’s more from Fischer’s latest rumor round-up, which is centered on point guards:
- The Clippers continue to signal to rival teams that they aren’t willing to discuss trading James Harden, according to Fischer. As he points out, Harden has an implicit no-trade clause for 2025/26 and a $42.3MM player option for 2026/27 that’s partially guaranteed for $13.3MM. In order to approve a potential trade, Harden would likely want to know if the team interested in acquiring him planned to keep him past his July 11 salary guarantee date or if it would be open to re-signing him to a new deal, Fischer writes.
- Collin Gillespie, who is having a breakout season for the Suns, will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Rival teams are projecting the 26-year-old to receive a contract similar to the three-year, $27MM deal Ty Jerome signed with Memphis this past summer, per Fischer.
- While rival clubs are reportedly monitoring both players, the Cavaliers have shown no interest to this point in making an in-season deal involving Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen, Fischer confirms, echoing reporting from Brett Siegel.
- As Fischer writes, Tyler Kolek‘s impressive recent play with the Knicks has opposing teams wondering if New York will target frontcourt help ahead of the deadline instead of a veteran point guard. It’s unclear which position the Knicks will ultimately look to fortify.
Is there a team out there wanting to sign Chris Paul??
As good as Kolek has played over the past few weeks, Knicks may want a veteran backup for a playoff run.
As a 40 year Knicks fan, I want absolutely no parts of Chris Paul on this team. Before the season I’d have considered it but not now after seeing how he conducted himself in that LAC situation. We don’t need distractions here and he doesn’t have much left to even project what he can bring.
I got Phx currently trying to fit Goodwin and Gillespie both into thier exceptions for next year
Could be splitting up the full Mle or perhaps Goodwin taking the Bae and Conner getting a big chunk / full Mle
Those 2 have pretty much given Phx a new identity overnight with their Poa D
* Mark Willams has been so good as well ,
what a steal under rfa status for a junky first only – Nice work Phx , didn’t know ya had it in ya
This NYK FO has always had a tendency to prioritize fixing what isn’t broke, while collectively staring at what was and remains broke. Still, using what little resources they have at this stage to get yet another PG would take that to another level. I’m going to assume they’re smarter than that, at least until proven otherwise.
Hopefully, they’ll focus on adding something good, not merely removing their off season mistake (Yabu) from the roster, where he’s a constant reminder of their mistake. The roster is still small, so I’m hoping they’ll add some size. Length, not width. The got that confused over the summer.
I think we have enough length between KAT, Mitch Robinson, Hukporti, and now with the emergence of Diawara.
This front office has addressed all of our issues on paper and now the players have to go out and produce…let’s remember that we signed Yabu for his floor spacing ability from the 4/5 and his toughness NOT his length/height.
Hukporti and Diawara are not rotation players or haven’t been (neither is in the top 10 in minutes). The rotational part of the roster consists of 5 guards (none over 6’4), two SF’s (only one of whom is even a 3/4) and 2 C’s (only one of whom is a 5/4). Not a true 4 in the mix. That’s a small team. Add in that one C doesn’t defend, and the other is injury prone, and it’s something that should already have been addressed.
Obviously, Yabu wasn’t signed for his length. He also should not have been signed for his toughness or his ability to space the floor, since he isn’t and can’t. There is more to floor spacing than being able to hit a wide open 3.
The Knicks are carrying 3 centers on the roster NOT including Yabu or Jemmison. To say this team has a problem there is simply false…unless you think we’re still in the 90s. Hukporti and now Diawara have proven they can contribute when given minutes. We have all of the pieces to match up with teams at the center position.
I don’t know what you watched last year, but Yabusele most definitely proved to be a floor stretcher and tough player, BOTH in the NBA and international play.
Amazing what a PG can do for an offense and team. Gillespie, Spencer, Nembhard, Kolek all showing up. Fact all are four yr college players. And are still getting better as players. Something for all the haters here. Real talent always gets better. Especially 19-20 yr olds. Like Giddey with his first good year at age 23 in his 5th year.
Happy to see Kolek waking up. Not sold on him yet for playoffs. I will have to chk him out hard till TD.
Looney n Bey for Mitch gets my attention. I will add a 2nd rd pick.
What the heck is an “implied” no trade clause? Either he has one or he doesn’t
It’s not a formal no-trade clause that applies to the entire contract (only Lillard and LeBron have those), but gives him the same powers as a no-trade clause for one season.