It doesn’t feel good, and it comes with doing a tough thing looking in the mirror. Which the LA Clippers, with a record of 6-16, still refuse to do from top to bottom.

At 2:40 am EST Wednesday morning, a cryptic Instagram story reading “I found out I’m being sent home.” surfaced through social media. Such words were not echoed by a regular civilian worker, but a notable face who has been the model of consistency for over two decades in his profession.

Reunion comes to an end

There comes a time in certain professions when you don’t have that same effect to do your job at a high level, so circumstances will change. Even when it comes to an organization where you provided some of the greatest memories to.

With dismissals come questions that call for immediate answers. President of Basketball Operations for the Clippers Lawrence Frank attempted to do that.

Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank texted a statement to ESPN confirming that Chris Paul is no longer on the team.

“We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team,” Frank said. “We will work with him on the next step of his career.”… pic.twitter.com/RAgNL36tlQ

— ESPN (@espn) December 3, 2025

As the day went on Wednesday, and more information was revealed regarding the situation, this gave the opportunity for the public to choose sides. Not only that, but to dig up past behaviors from certain individuals in the situation.

Lawrence Frank

Paul is recognized throughout the NBA. Hated by some, loved by others, but seems to be respected by most thanks to his credentials and resume.

Chris Paul :

-12x All-Star.
-11x All-NBA.
-9× All-Def.
-5x AST Champ.
-6x STL Champ.
-NBA 75th Anniversary Team

Glad I got to witness this

Point Gawd forever. pic.twitter.com/0LSFBDrVt1

— D (@Yeaderr) January 6, 2024

For Paul, the results are there as arguably one of the top 10 greatest point guards of all time. By default, one would expect this situation to be handled in a different matter, and that is what the Clippers — starting from the top — seemed to be heavily criticized for.

Later in the afternoon, Stephen A. Smith would transition from his solo sitcom “The Stephen A. Smith Show” and continue with his heavy criticism of Frank, reacting to his full statement as a “lack of accountability and shameful.” For some, they were able to pinpoint who the problem is based off their own personal experiences with Frank.

DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins, who made his mark as being one of the best big men and perennial NBA All-Star, made it known who he was siding with. Paul is a guy Cousins isn’t fond of, but like most former players, you can’t deny his credentials and the impact he has had on the game.

For the Clippers there is plenty to go around, and no one should be excluded from it.

Frank should be the first to get his fair share of criticism, but it doesn’t stop there. The Clippers are already looked at as a disappointing basketball team. This season, the third-to-last team in the Western Conference. 

In Frank’s statement, there was a particular piece that he echoed which was valid:

“Chris is not responsible for us being 6-16.”

Which is ironic, because he seems to be getting the harshest punishment out of anyone else.

That same PR statement was echoed by head coach Tyron Lue pregame versus the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday evening in Atlanta.

Ty Lue on Chris Paul:

“I just think it wasn’t a good fit for what he was looking for. It is what it is. Do I want to see CP go out like this? No. I have a lot of respect for him. He’s been a friend of mine over the years. You never wanna see a great go out like this. But I’m… pic.twitter.com/BFZHJed7rM

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) December 3, 2025

Lue seems to have a different relationship with Paul.

Former players and current television specialists such as Cousins, Kendrick Perkins and Lou Williams seem to be careful on criticizing another person like Lue in their fraternity. However, a report by Chris Haynes suggests otherwise, that it was Lue who didn’t want him around and made it easier for him to get pushed out the door.

Chris Paul was reportedly “vocal” in holding management, coaches, and players accountable, per @ShamsCharania

Clippers viewed this as disruptive, and Ty Lue “was not on speaking terms” with CP3 for weeks pic.twitter.com/Y1xaOQVTYO

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 3, 2025

Expectations simply haven’t been met by the Clippers.

If there is one person who has been proven time and time again that he hates to lose it’s Paul. In a tumultuous start to the season, it is extremely hard for anyone to deal with that. This is where conversations must be had to come to resolution. To his credit, Frank was consistent in engaging in multiple conversations with Paul before pulling the plug going into Wednesday morning.

Lue, on the other hand, chose to take a different approach by avoiding in any conversations with not only his veteran point guard, but someone whom he called “a friend” after Paul was let go. That isn’t good look, and the chants have grown louder from the Clippers fan base for Lue’s dismissal, displaying their love and respect for Paul.

Paul is not for everybody, and that is what the Clippers knew before signing him.

Plans didn’t go as followed with bringing back one of the franchise’s greatest players of all time. Unfortunately, Paul became the whistle blower putting a direct light on the Clippers as an organization, and it is going to have to be something they will have to deal with.Â