Chris Paul (Part 3)

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11 Mar 2024

Chris Paul (Part 3)

On December 8, 2011, a significant turn of events unfolded as the Hornets agreed to a three-team trade that would send Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the NBA, which owned the Hornets at the time, intervened and nullified the deal, with Commissioner David Stern asserting that it would be more beneficial for the Hornets to retain Paul. Despite efforts from the involved teams to persuade the league to reverse its decision and salvage the transaction, their pleas fell on deaf ears. Subsequently, on December 12, the Hornets brokered another deal, this time agreeing to send Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers. However, negotiations hit a roadblock when the NBA imposed additional conditions on the initial terms. After overcoming these hurdles, the teams finally reached an agreement two days later, finalizing the trade that would see Paul and two future second-round draft picks heading to the Clippers. In return, the Hornets acquired Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and the Minnesota Timberwolves' unprotected first-round pick in the 2012 draft, which was ultimately used to select Austin Rivers. Following the completion of the deal, Paul announced his intention to exercise his option for the final year of his contract, committing to remain in Los Angeles for at least two more seasons.

Chris Paul's arrival in Los Angeles marked a turning point for the Clippers franchise, injecting new energy and optimism. His partnership with teammate Blake Griffin was particularly impactful, with Griffin acknowledging that Paul's presence "put us on the map." The Clippers quickly earned a reputation for their electrifying style of play, characterized by fast-paced offense and jaw-dropping alley-oop dunks, often orchestrated by Paul and executed by Griffin or DeAndre Jordan. This dynamic style of play earned them the moniker "Lob City." Paul's individual contributions were undeniable, as he averaged an impressive 19.8 points, 9.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game during his debut season with the Clippers. His stellar performance earned him the distinction of being the first Clipper to be named to the All-NBA First Team since the franchise's relocation to Los Angeles in the 1980s. Buoyed by Paul's leadership and Griffin's emergence as an All-NBA caliber player, the Clippers secured a playoff berth, albeit falling to the San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals.

At the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, Chris Paul showcased his exceptional skills by leading the Western Conference to victory with an impressive performance, tallying 20 points and 15 assists en route to earning his first NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. Throughout the regular season, Paul continued to excel, contributing significantly to the Clippers' success as they achieved a franchise-record 56 wins. Averaging 16.9 points, 9.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, Paul's stellar play solidified his status as one of the league's premier point guards.
Despite their regular-season achievements, the Clippers faced disappointment in the postseason, bowing out in the first round to the Memphis Grizzlies. Following their early playoff exit, rumors swirled regarding Paul's alleged involvement in the decision to not renew coach Vinny Del Negro's contract. However, the Clippers management denied any player interference in the coaching decision.

Heading into the 2013-14 season, Paul reaffirmed his commitment to the Clippers by signing a lucrative five-year contract extension worth approximately $107 million. Despite battling a shoulder injury that sidelined him for an extended period, Paul's leadership guided the Clippers to yet another franchise-record 57 wins. His contributions on the court were remarkable, as he averaged 19.1 points, 10.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. However, their postseason journey was cut short once again, as they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games during the second round of the playoffs.

The 2014-15 season saw Paul play in all 82 games for the first time in his career, demonstrating his durability and consistency on the court. Averaging 19.1 points and a league-leading 10.2 assists per game, Paul continued to assert himself as one of the league's premier playmakers. In a crucial Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs, Paul delivered a clutch go-ahead shot with a second left, propelling the Clippers to victory despite battling a hamstring injury. However, their playoff journey ended in disappointment once again, as they squandered a 3-1 series lead against the Houston Rockets, marking ten consecutive seasons without an NBA Conference Finals appearance for Paul.

In January of the 2015–16 NBA season, Chris Paul showcased his leadership by guiding the Clippers to an impressive ten-game winning streak, despite facing adversity with injuries to key players such as Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Paul's stellar play continued throughout the season, marking the third consecutive year he finished with averages of over 19 points, 10 assists, and 2 steals per game. However, the postseason brought unfortunate circumstances as Paul suffered a hand injury during Game 4 of the first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, ruling him out indefinitely. The absence of Paul, coupled with Griffin's injury, proved detrimental as the Clippers ultimately fell to the Trail Blazers in six games, ending their playoff run prematurely.

The 2016–17 season saw Paul contend with further challenges, as he missed 21 regular-season games due to rest or injury. Despite his impactful contributions on the court, Paul was notably omitted from the All-NBA honors at the season's end, marking just the second time since 2008 that he failed to secure a spot on the All-NBA team and the first time during his tenure with the Clippers. In the playoffs, the Clippers faced a tough matchup against the Utah Jazz in the first round. Despite Paul's impressive performance, averaging 25.3 points, 9.9 assists, and 5 rebounds per game over seven games, the Clippers were ultimately eliminated from contention, bringing an end to their postseason aspirations for that season.