Clippers send Chris Paul home amid ongoing roster turmoil
The Los Angeles Clippers made waves last Wednesday with their sudden decision to part ways with Chris Paul. In a striking move during an East Coast road trip, the franchise informed the 40-year-old point guard to head home. While the implications of sidelining a franchise icon are significant, the Clippers’ management finds itself in a precarious situation that remains unresolved nearly a week later.
Roster complications linger
When the Clippers opted to send Paul home, they didn’t officially waive or trade him. The rationale behind this choice is multifaceted. Waiving Paul would reduce their roster to just 13 players, which poses a compliance issue given the NBA’s roster rules. According to league cap expert Keith Smith, teams must maintain a minimum of 14 standard contracts for a total of 14 days at any given time, and 28 days in total. Moreover, releasing Paul would not yield any financial relief, as he is on a guaranteed contract.
Currently, the Clippers find themselves approximately $1.3 million shy of the first apron hard cap, which limits their ability to sign additional players, even on minimum deals. This leaves them in a bind as they navigate the ongoing chaos.
Depleted roster raises concerns
With Paul sidelined, the Clippers are left with only 13 players on standard contracts. Compounding the issue, injuries have sidelined key players like Bradley Beal for the season and Derrick Jones Jr. for an extended stretch, resulting in a mere 11 players available to compete. This scarcity has forced the team to lean heavily on their two-way players, with Kobe Sanders stepping into a more prominent role.
According to Smith, one viable path forward would involve releasing Paul and converting Sanders’ contract to a standard deal. This maneuver would keep the Clippers compliant with salary cap regulations while also allowing them to sign another player to a two-way contract. Yet, for reasons that remain unclear, the Clippers have yet to take this step, continuing to field a depleted roster.
Trade options limited by timing
Another avenue for the Clippers is trading Paul, but this is complicated by league rules. Since he signed a new contract in the offseason, Paul cannot be traded until December 15. This delay leaves the team with little option but to endure the current instability for another week.
As each day passes without a resolution to the Chris Paul situation, the Clippers risk further diminishing their depth. The team currently lacks reliable backcourt options, with no dependable backup point guard behind James Harden. The question looms: can the Clippers afford to keep Paul out of the lineup until mid-December, particularly when they are in desperate need of experienced playmaking?
There are suggestions that head coach Ty Lue and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank could negotiate a temporary arrangement that would allow Paul to remain with the team until a trade becomes feasible. If such arrangements are not possible, the Clippers should have already moved to waive Paul and elevate Sanders to a standard contract.
The continued mismanagement of the roster by Frank and his team raises serious concerns. As the situation stands, the Clippers face a critical juncture that requires decisive action to restore balance and effectiveness to their roster.
