Harden and Leonard stunned as Clippers cut ties with Chris Paul

James Harden woke up successful Atlanta to find retired done his telephone that Chris Paul was nary longer his teammate. After a three-hour late-night gathering astatine the squad edifice with president of hoops operations Lawrence Frank, the Clippers told the 12-time All-Star helium would not proceed with the team.

"I'm conscionable arsenic confused and shocked arsenic you guys, the world," Harden said aft the Clippers bushed the Hawks 115-92 to drawback a five-game losing streak. "Definitely amazed me." He added that the concern is retired of his power and that helium has to absorption connected his ain occupation portion the beforehand bureau does what it believes is best.

Kawhi Leonard had a akin absorption erstwhile the quality broke. "It was shocking to me," Leonard said. "I conjecture they had a conversation, and beforehand bureau made a decision."

Rift with Ty Lue and status plans framework Paul’s exit

The divided followed weeks of rising tension. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Paul was not connected speaking presumption with caput manager Ty Lue and that his wont of challenging "management, coaches and players accountable" was seen arsenic disruptive astir the team. Frank insisted the determination did not travel from 1 isolated infinitesimal and that determination were respective conversations earlier the last call.

Lue argued that Paul should not beryllium blamed for the Clippers’ 5-16 record. "I don't deliberation it needfully helped our team," Lue said earlier Wednesday's game. "I mean, I don't deliberation the crushed wherefore we're 5-16 is due to the fact that of CP's play." He praised Paul’s vocation and said helium did not privation to spot a prima permission nether these circumstances. "I'm beauteous definite helium volition find thing due to the fact that he's a large player. [But] I didn't privation to spot it extremity similar this."

Sources told Charania that Paul volition discontinue astatine the extremity of this season, his 21st successful the NBA, leaving the Clippers to navigate headdress rules and roster limits arsenic they determine whether a trade, waiver oregon buyout becomes his stop.