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Chris Paul has not played in an NBA game in more than two months. But that didn't preclude the Los Angeles Clippers from trading him to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old Paul, who was "sent home" by the Clippers on Dec. 3 and hasn't played since, was dealt to the Raptors in a three-team trade that also included the Brooklyn Nets. The Raptors reportedly are not requiring Paul to report to Toronto, and the 12-time NBA All-Star could find himself re-routed to another team before the trade deadline on Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern.
MORE: Is Chris Paul going to play again this season? How one more roster move could finally help his cause
Paul is one of the best point guards of his generation, known for his mid-range jumper, silky-smooth passing and tenacious backcourt defense. But Paul's point-per-game average has decreased in each of the past six seasons, all the way to a career-low 2.9 points in 16 games with the Clippers this season.
Paul hs bounced around in recent years. After leading the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021 and the best record in the NBA in 2022, Paul was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2023, where he was primarily a reserve for the first time in his decorated 21-year career.
Last year, he started all 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs, lending his experience and knowledge to young group that has taken flight this season; the Spurs now are second in the Western Conference with a 33-16 record.
Paul hoped to end his career on a high in Los Angeles when he re-joined the Clippers on a one-year deal. But friction behind the scenes saw the Clippers move on without him in December -- and after a 6-21 start, Los Angeles has vaulted into the play-in hunt, having won 17 of their past 22 games.
In the right situation, Paul could remain a valuable reserve on a contender. He intends to retire at the end of the season, and winning a championship would be the best way to go out.
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