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From Point God to an afterthought: Why Chris Paul's career is probably over
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- From Point God to an afterthought: Why Chris Paul's career is probably over
The Feb. 5 trade deadline is fast approaching and Chris Paul has been without a team since he was sent home by the Los Angeles Clippers in a sudden and shocking move in early December.
According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Clippers have three options to resolve this situation: waive him and cover his $3.6 million salary for the year, agree to a buyout, or send him to another team.
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He is now trade-eligible as they are way past Dec. 15, 2025, the starting date teams could trade free agents who signed contracts in the offseason.
So far, the Clippers have not moved the needle on Paul's future. And like many fans and pundits, Paul is still waiting.
When he announced in November 2025 that he would be retiring after this season, all he was supposed to do was savor every cheer and enjoy his farewell tour. However, the Clippers' front office and president Lawrence Frank derailed that plan when they sent him home.
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Now, his chance to have an honorable end to his legendary NBA career hangs in the balance. But looking at where he is now at this stage of his career, combined with the outside noise about his reputation, Paul should expect the worst and possibly kiss that chance goodbye.
A dramatic drop
Several aging stars are still able to contribute a lot on the floor. This season, however, the 40-year-old has not been one of them.
In the 16 games he has played this season, Paul averaged 2.9 points on a poor 32.1 percent shooting from the field, 1.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes of playing time per game off the bench.
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His numbers suffered a steep and dramatic drop from last year when he was still with the San Antonio Spurs . There, he was still a decent point guard, with solid averages of 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 28.0 minutes per game.
Perhaps Clippers coach Tyronn Lue underutilized him this season, but it is hard to put a player on the floor when he is not making any positive impact at all. They say he could impact the game beyond the box score. That was not evident in the games he played for the Clips this season.
The Clippers are better without him
Just look at the team's record after he was gone.
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In the 25 games since he was sent home, the Clippers are 18-7. Although it included a rough five-game losing streak, the team has since picked up with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard at the helm. The Clippers were 4-12 in the games Paul played.
Although it is unfair to connect this turnaround to CP3's removal from the team – as Leonard was injured early in the season – it's clear that his value to the team has dwindled. The Clippers found life when they routed the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 20, days after the shocking move and since then, they've been on a roll.
But this further proves the point that they don't need the Point God anymore, especially since he's a shell of his former self. It seems that the locker room has been in good spirits since he left and this chemistry and elevated play have revived their play-in chances.
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Who's willing to take the gamble?
Despite the odds being against him, Paul has made it clear that he does not want to end his career with his fallout with the Clippers . There are potent destinations he and the team could explore. Among the few teams he could go to are the Houston Rockets , Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks .
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Without Fred VanVleet , who tore his ACL ahead of the season, the Rockets' ball-handling and playmaking have suffered significantly. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves could have him as a backup point guard to Mike Conley since their young floor generals, particularly rookie Rob Dillingham , have been struggling. Finally, despite finding a gem in Ryan Nembhard , the Mavericks and their star rookie Cooper Flagg could still use Paul's veteran leadership.
However, Paul has built a reputation for causing tension in the locker room. This season, reports said he suggested ways on how to improve the team at the height of their struggles, something coaches Lue and Jeff Van Gundy, as well as Frank and management, reportedly did not appreciate. In other words, he reportedly was a " pain in the –s ," forcing the Clippers' hand.
Houston, Minnesota, Dallas and possibly other teams could still find ways to utilize CP3. But based on his reputation and the Clippers' track record since he was cut, are they really willing to take the gamble? We'll find out at this trade deadline.
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For now, Paul should come to grips with the possibility that his last game could be an eight-point, three-assist effort in a 140-123 loss to the Miami Heat . And that his untimely and admittedly, disrespectful dismissal could be the conclusion to his Hall of Fame career, decorated with 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA honors, nine All-Defensive Team nods, five assists and six steals titles.
His legacy as the Clippers' GOAT and one of the last true point guards of the NBA is etched in stone, but Paul should brace for a less dignified ending and an earlier end of his career than he anticipated.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
