Los Angeles Clippers stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard expressed shock Wednesday after learning the team parted ways with Chris Paul overnight. The decision came after a three-hour late-night meeting between Paul and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank at the team hotel in Atlanta.
Harden and Leonard discovered the news on their phones Wednesday morning. The abrupt departure stunned the roster as the Clippers prepared to face the Atlanta Hawks.
“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said after the Clippers beat Atlanta 115-92. “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands. I got to focus on what I got to focus on and what I can control. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision for the organization.”
Leonard said the announcement caught him off guard despite the team’s 5-16 record entering Wednesday’s game.
“It was shocking to me,” Leonard said. “I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.”
Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that Paul was not on speaking terms with coach Ty Lue for several weeks. Paul’s leadership style clashed with Lue and the Clippers, according to sources, who said the 12-time All-Star was vocal in holding management, coaches and players accountable.
The Clippers believed Paul’s style had become disruptive, sources told Charania. Frank said the decision did not stem from one isolated incident.
Lue was asked whether Paul’s exit helps the Clippers moving forward.
“I don’t think it necessarily helped our team,” Lue said. “I mean, I don’t think the reason why we’re 5-16 is because of CP’s play. I just think that it wasn’t a good fit for what he was looking for. 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, and you don’t want to see a great go out like this.”
Paul will retire at the end of this season, his 21st in the NBA.