Clippers released Chris Paul at 2am; not his idea but doesn't seem acrimonious.

[QUOTE=Real Men Wear Green;15045677][B]Gary Payton did actually help the Heat. I hate trying to go by imprecise memory but I could swear he got at least one clutch shot for them in the Finals, he started a good number of regular season games and played solid rotation minutes. Paul, on the other hand, will have to be preserved for special occasions of he signs somewhere. Even though he was old I don't recall GP ever doing load management.
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Edit: That said, Thunder would be a good spot for him. They don't need him or really anyone but of they have an open roster spot he makes sense. And he should still have some fans there.[/QUOTE]

He did, what I mean is being a HOFer who basically got a ring at the end of his career as a roleplayer. I may be underplaying his contributions relative to where Paul is at this point, but that's what I mean. He started 25 games and averaged 8/3/3, so not as washed as CP3 is but also at a point where that championship mostly capped off his career but didn't any any legacy points to his resume.

Its possible that being on a team with a legit shot to win may boost CP3 a bit. With how the Clips have been this year it must be hard to get out of bed for that train wreck.

[QUOTE=Real Men Wear Green;15045677][B]Gary Payton did actually help the Heat. I hate trying to go by imprecise memory but I could swear he got at least one clutch shot for them in the Finals, he started a good number of regular season games and played solid rotation minutes. Paul, on the other hand, will have to be preserved for special occasions of he signs somewhere. Even though he was old I don't recall GP ever doing load management.
[/B]
Edit: That said, Thunder would be a good spot for him. They don't need him or really anyone but of they have an open roster spot he makes sense. And he should still have some fans there.[/QUOTE]

He did, what I mean is being a HOFer who basically got a ring at the end of his career as a roleplayer. I may be underplaying his contributions relative to where Paul is at this point, but that's what I mean. He started 25 games and averaged 8/3/3, so not as washed as CP3 is but also at a point where that championship mostly capped off his career but didn't any any legacy points to his resume.

Its possible that being on a team with a legit shot to win may boost CP3 a bit. With how the Clips have been this year it must be hard to get out of bed for that train wreck.

Clippers gonna Clipper. I guess it's just in their DNA.

If I was Paul I would look a the Thunder as the last guy on the bench for a possible championship ride or just call it a career if he can't get on the roster.

[QUOTE=Meticode;15045748]If I was Paul I would look a the Thunder as the last guy on the bench for a possible championship ride or just call it a career if he can't get on the roster.[/QUOTE]

I mean, this was his last season. He already announced it. Do they think he's holding them back. They're 5-17

I think he'd make a great coach

His basketball IQ is off the charts and he's ultra competitive

Detroit might make sense. Young team going places

[url]https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/detroit-pistons-phoenix-suns-emerge-among-top-surprise-teams-to-begin-the-2025-26-nba-season[/url]

Shams Charania: Chris Paul and his leadership style clashed with the Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Paul has been vocal in holding management, coaches and players accountable, which the team felt became disruptive. Specifically: Ty Lue was not on speaking terms with Pau

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;15045769]Shams Charania: Chris Paul and his leadership style clashed with the Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Paul has been vocal in holding management, coaches and players accountable, which the team felt became disruptive. Specifically: Ty Lue was not on speaking terms with Pau[/QUOTE]

That's believable. And potentially makes Lue look bad.

[QUOTE=L.Kizzle;15045754]I mean, this was his last season. He already announced it. Do they think he's holding them back. They're 5-17[/QUOTE]

I know it's his last season, but if the Thunder don't want him at all even to ride to a possibly championship then I would just call it a career in the middle of the season. If I was him the Thunder is the only team I would play for. Maybe the Nuggets? And no he wasn't holding him back, but there's usually more to the story than what's released to the public.

[QUOTE=Real Men Wear Green;15045771]That's believable. And potentially makes Lue look bad.[/QUOTE]

In what world is the 15th man on a minimum contract allowed to be vocal?

Whatever your criticisms are, Lue has proven himself to be a competent coach in this league who has won a title and made the playoffs much more than missed.

He doesn't need to take advice from CP.

[QUOTE=beasted;15045798]In what world is the 15th man on a minimum contract allowed to be vocal?

Whatever your criticisms are, Lue has proven himself to be a competent coach in this league who has won a title and made the playoffs much more than missed.

He doesn't need to take advice from CP.[/QUOTE]

That's who he is. They have the right to tell him to stay home while they see if they can trade him for something but you yourself pointed out how much money he's made. When a guy like that signs for the minimum it's not really about the money, he makes more off the court and probably could make as much or more of he became a coach or took a tv job0. He's a very and he's used to operating a certain way. They can tell him to go away, and they have, but a guy that has been in the league 20 years with all of his accolades isn't going to hold his tongue just because his on court role or pay are minor.

[QUOTE=beasted;15045798]In what world is the 15th man on a minimum contract allowed to be vocal?
.[/QUOTE]

I would have assumed being a voice, a veteran lockerroom presence is why they brought him back moreso than what he was providing on the court. I mean its not like they don't know who Chris Paul is and what he represents.

[QUOTE=Real Men Wear Green;15045799]That's who he is. They have the right to tell him to stay home while they see if they can trade him for something but you yourself pointed out how much money he's made. When a guy like that signs for the minimum it's not really about the money, he makes more off the court and probably could make as much or more of he became a coach or took a tv job0. He's a very and he's used to operating a certain way. They can tell him to go away, and they have, but a guy that has been in the league 20 years with all of his accolades isn't going to hold his tongue just because his on court role or pay are minor.[/QUOTE]

CP was brought on to mentor players, not the HC.

Many will say this is unfair, but, what has CP won to be able to try and tell Lue how to run the team?

Lue won as a player and a HC.

[QUOTE=beasted;15045809]CP was brought on to mentor players, not the HC.

Many will say this is unfair, but, what has CP won to be able to try and tell Lue how to run the team?

Lue won as a player and a HC.[/QUOTE]

If Lue doesn't coach James or play with Shaq and Kobe he's won nothing. Conversely if Paul was OK with playing for less money to win he could have been James or Durant's point guard when he was younger and would have had a great spot at a championship. Winning a ring doesn't magically change what a guy really knows about the game. Paul knows what does and does not work on the court. Lue no doubt also understands the game but as a vet coach and ex-player he should have known what kind of guy Paul is. Does not matter what he gets paid or if he gets to play, anywhere Paul goes he's going to be a vocal leader. Lue got sick of hearing it from him and told him to go away, fine, they can do that, but we all know what kind of guy Paul is.