NBA Trade Rumors: Chris Paul, Clippers Agree to Contract After Bradley Beal Deal in 2025 NBA Free Agency
Chris Paul is returning to the NBA for a 21st—and potentially final—season.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Paul has agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.6 million with the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2025-26 season. The Clippers confirmed the signing on Monday, with team president Lawrence Frank noting Paul would join the team as a reserve point guard.
This move comes shortly after Bradley Beal signed with the Clippers following a buyout from the Phoenix Suns. Paul appears poised to take on a leadership and mentorship role while bolstering the team's backcourt depth.
Paul previously indicated during the American Black Film Festival in July that this season might be his last.
"I just finished my 20th season, which is a blessing in itself," Paul said. "I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, which is a blessing. But these years you do not get back with your kids, with your family."
Paul played the 2024-25 season with the San Antonio Spurs, mentoring their young roster, particularly star rookie Victor Wembanyama. Despite Wembanyama's season-ending injury in February due to a blood clot, Paul's on-court contributions remained strong. He averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 37.7% from beyond the arc.
His pairing with Wembanyama produced the only two-man lineup on the Spurs with a positive net rating (+6.2) over 1,000 minutes played together. However, after the Spurs acquired De'Aaron Fox and won the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, the writing was on the wall for Paul's departure.
Returning to the Clippers reunites Paul with James Harden, his former Houston Rockets teammate. Their previous partnership from 2017 to 2019 helped lead the Rockets to 118 wins over two seasons, though it ended on a sour note.
Paul's return also marks a homecoming to the franchise where he enjoyed his prime from 2011 to 2017. During that span, he led the Clippers to six straight playoff appearances and helped elevate the team's stature in the NBA.
While the Clippers aren't getting the same All-Star caliber version of Paul, his experience and playmaking can still make a significant impact. His addition helps fill the void left by Ben Simmons, who struggled in the backup point guard role last season.
The Clippers have retooled their roster heading into 2025-26, adding both Paul and Beal. Their upgraded backcourt depth positions them to better challenge Western Conference powerhouses like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets.
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