Los Angeles Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden grew “sick and tired” of Chris Paul, NBA sources told DallasHoopsJournal.
Paul, who was sent home by the Clippers while the team was in Atlanta to face the Hawks, was criticizing players, coaches and front office members nonstop, sources said.
Leonard and Harden didn’t ask the Clippers to part ways with Paul, but the future Hall of Famers are “relieved” the Point God is no longer on the team, sources said.
Paul was in Leonard’s ear a lot, sources said. Leonard initially didn’t mind Paul’s advice because he has a lot of respect for him as a player and person.
However, it became too constant and Leonard believed Paul was “nagging” incessantly, sources said.
When the Clippers approached Harden in the offseason to discuss Paul joining the team, the lefty wasn’t fully on board because he knew Paul was difficult to work with, sources said. Harden and Paul were teammates on the Houston Rockets and butted heads several times.
Harden told the Rockets to trade Paul to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook in 2019 because he no longer wanted to play with CP3 and believed Westbrook could help him win his first championship. While the 2019-20 Houston team didn’t win it all, Harden didn’t have any tension with Westbrook.
Leonard and Harden told reporters they were “shocked” the Clippers parted ways with Paul, but that’s not true, sources said. Both stars knew the move was coming and signed off on it, sources said.
Paul played in 16 games this season. He averaged 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 32.1% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 50.0% from the free-throw line.
To move on from Paul, the Clippers will have to waive him and pay out his $3.6 million salary, agree to a buyout or trade him, which they can’t execute until December 15.
One of the best point guards in NBA history, Paul has played for the New Orleans Hornets, Clippers (twice), Rockets, Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. He holds career averages of 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game.
Paul has made 12 All-Star teams, nine All-Defensive teams and 11 All-NBA teams. He’s a top 75 player of all time and will make the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame one day.