The LA Clippers shocked the world last week when they unexpectedly released former OKC Thunder star, Chris Paul.
It wasn’t the release that enraged the NBA world, but the way in which it was done.
Analysts like Stephen A. Smith jumped on Los Angeles for how they treated the future Hall-of-Fame guard, criticizing the ball club for sending him home “like a child” in the middle of a road trip.
Meanwhile, Clippers legend Blake Griffin also chimed in when he expressed his disappointment in the organization for how they handled the situation. He mentioned how neither head coach Ty Lue nor owner Steve Ballmer had any communication with Paul following his release.
Clippers mistake could lead to yet another Thunder victory
One man’s trash is often another man’s treasure, and Oklahoma City is no stranger to this cliche when it comes to reaping the benefits of an incompetent Clippers front office.
Sam Presti and company are still reaping the benefits of the infamous 2019 Paul George trade, which brought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a rebuilding Thunder franchise along with draft picks that continue to bolster the roster to this day.
During his one year with Paul, Shai was able to play under the veteran’s tutelage, where he learned the ins and outs of becoming a perennial superstar and the face of a franchise.
Now, the Thunder have an opportunity to clean up LA’s mess and bring Paul back to the place that he claims revitalized his career.
Thunder have the power to make things right
Social media outlets have already jumped on this idea, lobbying for Oklahoma City to do what the Clippers couldn’t: Give the respected veteran the send-off he deserves.
It’s obvious the Thunder don’t need to make a move. They lead the league in minutes missed from injury and haven’t yet played a game at full strength… yet they still sit atop the NBA at 22-1.
Paul, however, would come in without expectation of serious playing time. He could serve as a sort of player-coach to help OKC’s young roster grow and develop even further, just like he did with SGA in 2019-2020.
While this is merely a hypothetical, it makes sense for both parties.
A reunification could benefit the Thunder’s young second unit and give the point guard one more chance to finally hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, which is just about the only thing he hasn’t done in his illustrious career.
Time will tell what happens to Paul, but adding more knowledge and experience to the locker room without sacrificing team chemistry and cohesion could be just what Oklahoma City needs to repeat as NBA Champions.