After sending Chris Paul home, many have wondered what the Los Angeles Clippers will do with him. Since it appears he won’t be suiting up for the team ever again, it would seem the best move would be to get rid of him as soon as possible.
One would think that the obvious solution would be to waive him, as he wouldn’t cost much on the salary cap. They haven’t done that, and there’s actually a particular reason as to why.
Why Haven’t the Clippers Waived Chris Paul?
NBA Insider Jake Fischer revealed the exact reason why the Clippers haven’t gotten rid of Paul. After confirming that Paul is the most likely player to be traded when he becomes trade-eligible (December 15), he explained why the Clippers are going the trade route.
“Their cleanest solution salary-cap-wise for extricating him from the actual roster would be to find a direct trade for another player on a veteran minimum salary,” Fischer wrote.
“With the Clippers hard-capped at the first apron and unable to sign a replacement given that they currently sit only $1 million and change under that apron, they can’t simply waive Paul. That would leave them with 13 players but also without the financial flexibility needed by the Clippers to sign a 14th player as mandated by league rules after a two-week grace period.”
This round of notes includes details on the Clippers, Chris Paul, Warriors, Pacers and more: https://t.co/iATLxfRQxG https://t.co/BiZTq0ukZs
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) December 9, 2025
So now, it’s all about who will want Paul. He’s not a star anymore, but it’s fair to say that with his reputation, teams will want that kind of presence around. Paul reportedly had a strong market during the offseason, even at his age.
Per Fischer, “League sources say Paul had interest from teams such as the Bucks, Knicks, Mavericks and Suns, but he was determined to stay as near to his family as possible.”
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Now that the Clippers are essentially trying to get out of the Paul business, it wouldn’t be surprising if some of those teams would have interest in acquiring his contract. Paul is on a one-year, $2.3 million contract, so he wouldn’t be too expensive to obtain.
The NBA season has reached the point where teams have demonstrated their capabilities and areas for improvement. So, it’s very possible that some of Paul’s previous suitors may not have interest in him anymore because of what’s going on with them internally, while more suitors may have emerged if they believe they’re capable of a title run.
Since it appears the Clippers want to address this matter as soon as possible, everyone will have a clearer picture by December 15.