Chris Paul is rejoining the Los Angeles Clippers in what is expected to be the point guard’s 21st and final NBA season. The team confirmed on Monday afternoon that Paul had signed. The 12-time All-Star was a free agent last season after playing 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the first NBA player to do so in his 20th season or later. He averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 assists while shooting 43% from the floor. Paul said he wants to play the upcoming season near his family, who live in Los Angeles.
He joins an experienced roster that includes new additions guard Bradley Beal, forward John Collins and center Brook Lopez, as well as Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Paul played six seasons for the Clippers during their “Lob City” era with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. He made five All-Star teams from 2012 to 2017, and his 4,023 assists are still the most in franchise history.
Paul left the Clippers for the Houston Rockets in 2017 because he felt it was time for a change and he wanted to compete for a championship with Harden. Paul spent two seasons in Houston before moving to Oklahoma City for one season. He then spent three years with Phoenix and one with Golden State before joining the Spurs last season, who finished 13th in the Western Conference at 34-48.
The Clippers finished fifth at 50-32 and lost to Denver in seven games in the first round.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, said Saturday that the team is “strongly considering” signing Paul to join a crowded guard rotation of Harden, Beal, Bogdanovic and Kris Dunn. Paul is expected to come off the bench.
“When you look at it, you have 10 quality rotation players now. We normally play nine. What we saw was the problem with potentially having too many guys and how that could affect the team,” Frank said. “So we’ve learned from those lessons and I think the conversations we have with the people who are going to join the Clippers next — they understand it’s a reserved role. They understand exactly what it’s like going into camp. So there’s no preconceived misconceptions.”
The Clippers want to keep Harden, who played nearly 2,800 minutes last season at age 35 in his 16th NBA season. They see Paul as insurance against injuries that typically plague a roster during an 82-game season and playoffs.
“Role awareness, especially these next roster spots, will be critical,” Frank said.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and appeared on a syndicated feed.)
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