Free agent point guard Chris Paul has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers after going through a free-agency process that had linked him to a return to one of two old stomping grounds, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Paul played for the Clippers from 2011-17 and Phoenix from 2020-23, and the 40-year-old who played for the San Antonio Spurs last season was reportedly eyeing teams where he could be close to his family in Los Angeles.
Phoenix was a potential option in Paul’s eyes, as Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported, because the Suns still have an opening at point guard.
As of now, Phoenix has four shooting guards on its roster: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen and two-way rookie Koby Brea. Dillon Brooks and Royce O’Neale are undersized wings who will also play the 2 or 3.
The Suns were reportedly still on Paul’s radar despite a complicated exit from the Suns, which included a public mention that owner Mat Ishbia and friend Isiah Thomas had ultimately decided he was not a fit to play for the 2023-24 team.
Chris Paul’s path back to the Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers this offseason have added two former Suns who were once traded for one another, Bradley Beal and Paul, to a backcourt that includes James Harden.
In June 2023, the Suns traded Paul, Landry Shamet, four first-round pick swaps and six second-round choices to the Washington Wizards for Beal, Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd — none of whom are with Phoenix two years later.
The move was a risky one to put Beal next to Booker and Kevin Durant. Beal and LeBron James were the only two NBA players with no-trade clauses on their contracts as well, but the context of Paul’s injuries issues, age and partially guaranteed year on his contract combined to put the writing on the wall for a Phoenix departure.
The Wizards soon redirected Paul to play for the Golden State Warriors in 2023-24.
This past year, Paul signed with the Spurs to average 8.8 points, 7.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game on 43% shooting.
