7:36pm: A tweet from ESPN’s Marc Spears says that, while Paul is expected to opt out, he hasn’t formally told the team or filed with the league at this point.
5:20pm: The Clippers have been informed that All-Star guard Chris Paul will decline his player option for 2017/18, Brad Turner of the LA Times tweets.
Paul, who recently turned 32, averaged 18.1 points and 9.2 assists in his 12th NBA season and is among the biggest names on the market this summer. While the Clippers will obviously look to retain him – and are the ‘overwhelming favorite‘ to do so – the veteran has also been linked to the Spurs (June 2 report) and, to a lesser extent, the Rockets and Nuggets (June 15 report).
The news of Paul’s decision comes shortly after it was announced that Blake Griffin, too, opted out of the final year of his own deal, effectively jump starting an inevitably busy offseason for Clippers president Doc Rivers.
Had Paul accepted his player option, he would have made $24.3MM this season. Now, under the new collective bargaining agreement, he’ll be eligible to make around $200MM over five years, so long as he stays with the Clippers.
Easiest call of the offseason. Now he’a eligible to sign for five years $200M, not to mention he’s already 32. This is it for Paul. I wonder if he resigns with the Clippers
I have a feeling that he’ll go to the spurs.
They don’t have the cap space. He’ll stay in la
Probably the most overrated pg in the league. Really needs an alpha in his team to be at his best
so wrong
You hit it 100%. He is good, no doubt about it. But definitely not worth a big contract. We’ll see what’s important to him now, winning or money. If it’s money he will resign with LAC. If it’s winning, he will leave.
Disagree. He’s not the best point guard in the league, but he’s still one of the best. His main “faults” are his injury prone-ness and he’s not selfish enough. But his unselfishness is his biggest fault as he doesn’t take control as much as he probably should. I could agree that he probably needs an alpha to be at his best, but I wouldn’t call him overrated. He’s one of the best passers, one of the best defenders, and one of the best scorers for his position/in the league. He’s underachieved, without a doubt, but its hardly been his fault when its mainly been a result of a poor surrounding cast (when he was in New Orleans) and a tendency to get injured.
Jerry West will probably break this team up
Sometimes you got to break it down before you can build it back up again.
Clippers make the playoffs but get bounced in the first round year after year. Quite the conundrum. If not for Paul George, Porzingis, Jimmy Butler (who has since been traded) Clippers offseason would dominate NBA storylines. Not everyday you have two all stars in their primes opt out of their contracts. It’s a tough call for any gm.
he only signed a two year deal though.
CP-3 and Blake Griffin should team up and go form a super-team somewhere…oh wait
what’s the roast here?
That they tried and failed. Every single year together. They need a true star to carry them and be the focus.
lol!
it might be best for him to go to spurs so he for the 1st time in his career is not the best player on his team. He would be an amazing 2ND option to kawhi
Cavs
Rose is the better option for the Spurs and Milsap would be perfect for spurs !
I think a sign and trade involving millsap and Aldridge could work
Rose? Cmon man