The Los Angeles Clippers didn’t just make waves this week. They triggered a full-on NBA earthquake. On Tuesday, the franchise shockingly decided to cut ties with California basketball legend Chris Paul, sending the future Hall of Famer home from their road trip and effectively ending his second stint with the team. It was a move nobody saw coming this early in the season, and yet, somehow, it also felt like a disaster months in the making.
And according to NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor, this entire saga might have been avoided if the Clippers had just listened to James Harden. Yep. The plot twist we didn’t expect, but absolutely needed. Fadeawayworld revealed that Harden wasn’t exactly thrilled when the Clippers brought Paul back over the summer. “I’ve heard from multiple sources around the NBA that James Harden was opposed to the Chris Paul signing,” the source said. “That he was one of the guys that was like ‘Eh, I’m not so sure here.’ And then this ended up happening.”
That alone is eyebrow-raising, but they didn’t stop there. “And the criticism constantly with players, with coaches, with front office management, it seems like maybe a little less surprising to James Harden, considering their time together.” And that time together? It wasn’t exactly sunshine and alley-oops. The fans are now beginning to get involved as well. One X user told Harded that maybe he needs to “Look in the mirror,” since every organization he is with has internal problems.
Harden and Chris Paul Have Beef?
Let’s rewind. From 2017 to 2019, Harden and Paul teamed up in Houston. Early on, it was fun and flashy. Then, things soured. Reports at the time suggested the relationship grew tense, and by the end of that run, neither guy looked thrilled to still be sharing a locker room. So when the Clippers decided to roll the dice and bring Paul home, Harden understandably raised an eyebrow.
The Clippers were spiraling this season, holding a brutal 5-16 record when they decided enough was enough. And while Paul was far from their biggest on-court issue, his numbers didn’t exactly help calm the storm. He was averaging 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 0.7 steals per game in 2025-26. But the stats weren’t the real problem. The vibes were.
Former Clipper Lou Williams, someone who knows Paul as well as anyone, shed a little light on what was happening behind the scenes. According to Williams, Paul was holding everyone accountable. So much so that he actually apologized at one point for coming off too harshly, explaining that his comments were coming from a good place. But even that didn’t smooth things over.
Paul’s leadership style sparked tension, not unity. He clashed with head coach Tyronn Lue, he clashed with the coaching staff, and he clashed with multiple players. At one point, team officials reportedly told him to cool it with the “locker room lawyering.” If you’ve followed Paul’s career at all, you know one thing: he’s not changing who he is, especially at 40.
What’s Next For The Los Angeles Clippers?
Paul had already announced he’d retire after the season, and for a lot of fans, finishing his legendary career with the Clippers felt poetic. After all, he helped turn the franchise from a league punchline into a legit contender back in 2011. When he left in 2017, he was considered one of the greatest players in Clippers history. This second stint, though? Rough. Pretty much the opposite of a storybook.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Even though Harden reportedly didn’t want Paul signed in the first place, he insists he didn’t see this coming. “Woke up and saw it on social media,” he said. “I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world… Definitely surprised me, but not just Chris, it’s a lot we were dealing with, but that’s out of my hands. I got to focus on what I got to focus on and what I can control. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision for the organization.”
So Harden was both right and surprised. A very Harden combination. Now the question becomes… what’s next for CP3? This is not how a 12-time All-Star should go out. Paul is too respected, too impactful, too important to the game to end his career sitting at home because a franchise couldn’t make it work. Ideally, someone brings him in, lets him finish the season with dignity, and gives fans one final chance to appreciate one of the most competitive players basketball has ever seen.
Because if this truly is the end? It feels way too messy for a player of his stature. And honestly, after everything he did to build the Clippers into something real, he deserved better than this blowup ending. Stay tuned. The Chris Paul saga isn’t done yet.
