CP3 sent packing

In his first LA Clippers run between 2011 to 2017, Chris Paul teamed up with fellow All-Stars Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and there, the “Lob City” era was born for the franchise.  CP3 had his most productive years during that time with Clippers.

In that span, he averaged 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per outing that resulted in 5 All-Star and All-NBA Teams and named to 6 consecutive NBA All-Defensive first team.

Following stints with Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Golden State and San Antonio, CP3 returned to the Clippers this season.  At 40 years old, he joins old timers James Harden, Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal, Nicolas Batum, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kawhi Leonard, making LAC the oldest team in NBA history with an average age of 33.2.

Among LAC’s senior citizens, Harden, at 36, is still playing at an elite level averaging 26.8 points and just recently moved up to 10th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.  LeBron James (first) and Kevin Durant (eighth) are the only active players ahead of him.

The now healthy Kawhi has played 14 games so far and like Harden, plays elite ball with nightly averages of 25. 4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3 assists.  Kawhi is 34 and has ankle and foot issues and whenever he’s out, it’s Harden who’s doing the heavy lifting.

Beal (32) has only played 6 games and is out for the season with a hip injury.  Lopez (37), Batum (36) and Bogdanovic (32) combine for 6.5 points per game.  These were productive players in their prime.

LAC’s coaching staff is also a veteran group with head coach Tyronne Lue, chief assistant Jeff Van Gundy and assistants Larry Drew and Brian Shaw.

CP3’s reunion tour with the Clippers was supposed to be his final ride into the sunset but it did not work out.   In and out of coach Tyronne Lue’s rotation, he just played 16 games this season with an uncharacteristic 2.9 points and 3.3 assists per game in 14 minutes of action.

The Clippers are so bad this year with a 6-18 record, putting them at 14th in the WC standings.  It was reported that CP3’s constant belittling of the team’s performance did not sit well with management, the coaching staff and the other veterans who took exception to his tone.   He was also asked to stop with his locker room badgering.  His continued presence while the team is piling losses won’t be beneficial considering his attitude.

As a free agent signee, CP3 can’t be traded until December 15.   LAC president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said that the team will coordinate with CP3’s representatives on how he can finally be removed from the roster.

Several teams have reportedly shown interest in the services of CP3 – Dallas, Orlando, Portland, OKC, Atlanta, Houston and the Lakers.