James Harden Didn’t Want Los Angeles Clippers To Sign Chris Paul
According to NBA insider Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, James Harden didn’t want the Los Angeles Clippers to sign Chris Paul.
Harden and Paul were teammates on the Houston Rockets and butted heads several times.
Harden told the Rockets to trade Paul to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook in 2019.
Paul played in 16 games this season. He averaged 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 32.1% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 50.0% from the free-throw line.
To move on from Paul, the Clippers will have to waive him and pay out his $3.6 million salary, agree to a buyout or trade him, which they can’t execute until December 15.
One of the best point guards in NBA history, Paul has played for the New Orleans Hornets, Clippers (twice), Rockets, Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. He holds career averages of 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game.
Paul has made 12 All-Star teams, nine All-Defensive teams and 11 All-NBA teams. He’s a top 75 player of all time and will make the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame one day.
According to NBA reporter Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, everyone on the Clippers was “fed up” with Paul, who was criticizing people too much despite not playing.
“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said after the Clippers beat the Atlanta Hawks, via ESPN. “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.”
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