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Om Youngmisuk
ATLANTA–In a surprising move overnight, LA Clippers announced it chris paul No longer in the team.
Paul, one of the greatest players in Clippers franchise history, posted an Instagram Story shortly before 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday that he had just learned he was being sent home from Atlanta to Los Angeles, where the Clippers play. atlanta hawks On Wednesday.
Shortly afterward, Lawrence Frank wrote a statement to ESPN confirming that Paul was no longer on the team.
“We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team,” Frank said. “We look forward to working with him in the next phase of his career.
“Chris is a great Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our poor performance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we have struggled. We are grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”
To move on from Paul, the Clippers would have to waive him and pay his $3.6 million salary, agree to a buyout or trade him, which they could not execute until December 15.
The Clippers have lost 14 of their last 16 games, including five in a row, and their record is 5-16. they lost bradley bealOne of his biggest offseason signings, due to a season-ending hip injury in early November.
Paul re-joined the Clippers in late July on a one-year deal. For Paul, 40, it was a chance to return home and end his career with the franchise with which he spent six seasons from 2011 to 2017. Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania last month that Paul is retiring at the end of this season, his 21st year in the NBA.
Paul is the Clippers franchise leader in total assists and steals per game. He started 1,314 of his 1,354 career games, including all 82 games last season. San Antonio SpursPaul’s role with the Clippers was to come off the bench, understanding that he could not play every night.
He played in 16 games, averaging 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes. He played 15 minutes in his final game with the Clippers during a 140-123 loss on Monday and had eight points and three assists. miami,
This is the second time the Clippers have faced a tough and sudden end to one of their all-time star players from the Lob City era. In July 2017, Blake Griffin signed a five-year, $171 million deal with the Clippers, but he was traded. detroit pistons In January 2018 when the team decided to go in a different direction.
