Both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard were left shocked after hearing the Los Angeles Clippers released Chris Paul.

In a bombshell announcement, Paul posted on his Instagram account in the early hours of Wednesday that he was being sent home, the same day the team prepared to play the Atlanta Hawks.

After the game, reporters asked Harden and Leonard about their reactions to the decision.

“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said. “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands.”

Leonard also couldn’t believe the news.

“It was shocking to me,” he said. “I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.”

The victory on Wednesday ended a five-game losing run for the Clippers. However, the team sits 13th in the Western Conference with a 6-16 record.

The poor start to the season hasn’t gone to plan for Paul, who rejoined the team which he spent six seasons with between 2011 and 2017 in the summer. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Paul’s relationship with head coach Ty Lue began to worsen, with the two “not on speaking terms.” The sources also told ESPN that Paul’s presence began to become disruptive.

Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations for the Clippers, confirmed to ESPN that the team parted ways with the veteran point guard, but remains grateful for his contributions to the franchise.

“Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career,” Frank said. “I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”

Though released from the team, Paul cannot be officially eligible for a trade until Dec. 15 due to signing a one-year deal this past summer.

More details on the alleged salary cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers on Kawhi Leonard‘s contract emerged this week, with the team releasing its own statement amid an ongoing investigation.

Investigative journalist Pablo Torre spoke on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast on Thursday, saying there were three prepaid carbon credit purchases from the Clippers between April and June 2022. These payments synced closely with Leonard completing his four-year, $28 million endorsement partnership with Aspiration.

Torre said the first carbon credits prepayment of $3 million was made on April 1, 2022. Another purchase, this time of $32 million, was made three days later, which was the same day Leonard signed his deal with Aspiration.

The Clippers released a statement following the recent discoveries, justifying the carbon credit payments as a way to go “far beyond” the offset requirements of the Intuit Dome.

“Our development agreements for the arena included mandates to buy carbon credits, but after studying the issue of neutrality, we went far beyond those requirements, exploring ways to address emissions from our fans and contracting with Aspiration to directly purchase carbon offsets, as well as broker the acquisition of additional offsets,” the statement said.

“Some of those commitments were built into the sponsorship deal with Aspiration – totally separate of the investment in the company – and we made payments to Aspiration until the company was unable to fulfill their responsibilities.”

Mark Cuban, who defended the Clippers on X, said purchasing carbon credits would’ve been “a lot easier and a lot safer” to circumvent the salary cap. One week later, Torre revealed his recent findings, which accused the franchise of purchasing carbon credits.

It is still unclear whether Torre’s new discoveries will prompt the NBA to take action on the Clippers. The team opens its regular season on Oct. 22 against the Utah Jazz.

Free agent point guard Chris Paul has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers for his expected final, 21st NBA season, CAA’s Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan and Jessica Holtz told ESPN.

The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer had multiple suitors such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets and Dallas Mavericks, but the 12-time All-Star chose the contending Clippers and their shared history in Los Angeles. Paul told The Pat McAfee Show in June that he was determined to play his 21st season near his family, who live in Los Angeles.

He becomes the latest veteran addition to the Clippers, who also have added shooting guard Bradley Beal, power forward John Collins and center Brook Lopez this offseason. The Clippers were searching for a reserve point guard in the marketplace – having conversations with Malcolm Brogdon as well – but landed on Paul over the last seven days. They have also created salary cap flexibility, allowing them to be opportunistic in the next two summers and potentially pursue stars.

This marks a return to the Clippers for Paul, who played for the franchise for six seasons (2011-12 to 2016-17), during which he was a five-time All-Star. He was also selected to five All-NBA teams, the most such selections in Clippers franchise history. And he had 4,023 assists with the Clippers, the most in franchise history.

He spent the last season with the San Antonio Spurs and played all 82 games, becoming the first player to play 82 games in a season at the age of 20 or later.

Paul, who was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005 and was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year that season, has 12,499 assists and 2,717 steals in his career – second all-time in both categories.

San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama charged at Ivica Zubac after Zubac knocked him down in the paint and received no call from officials. Wembanyama explained after the game that his frustrations were not specific to his Clippers opponent, arguing that referees have not been giving him a fair whistle early in his NBA career.

“So it’s a hard thing to fight, because it feels unfair sometimes,” Wembanyama said. “But of course, we talk about it with the staff and there is some stuff I have to do to help myself. First of all, being strong and not bailing out shots, but also there is some work to do. Talking to the refs, of course, explaining myself. But for me, it doesn’t feel like it’s something I should influence. I’m a basketball player, I’m here to play, and yeah, this is why it’s frustrating. It’s not my job to do politics.”

The incident between Wembanyama and Zubac occurred late in the third quarter when Zubac arrived in the paint late as Spurs forward Harrison Barnes drained a three-pointer. The Clippers center, who expressed his frustration with referees several times earlier in the game, hip-checked and elbowed Wembanyama with a running start, sending him flying out of bounds. 

Wembanyama charged at Zubac as soon as he got up, requiring Spurs assistants to leave the timeout huddle and hold him back. The Clippers went on to win 128-116. Zubac scored 21 points and earned 22 rebounds, while Wembanyama finished with 23 and 12.

There are several factors leading to more physical play against San Antonio’s second-year star. Wembanyama is a massive presence in the paint, naturally marking him as a clear target in a crowded space on the floor. He is also a focal point on an otherwise middling offense, forcing opposing teams to key in on him. His skinny frame and relative inexperience have led some of these teams to try rougher tactics.

Playing physical defense against big men isn’t a novel concept in the NBA; stars who make their names in the paint always have to deal with elbows and bumps and frustrating no-calls, especially early in their careers. Wembanyama is more than a post-up scorer, considered by some to be the most well-rounded prospect in NBA history. His path to superstardom remains the same, however.

James Harden signed a two-year, $70 million extension with the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of free agency. Harden signed a short-term deal with a player option in year two and below maximum contract value that gives the Clippers flexibility to continue building.

Harden forced his way out of Philadelphia at the beginning of the 2023-24 season after a public falling out with GM Daryl Morey, leading to his trade to the Clippers. He played 72 regular season games, averaging 16.6 points and 8.5 assists on a 51-win Clippers team. Harden’s team lost in six games to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA playoffs, but he did lead his team in scoring.

The Clippers will have a new look next year. Steve Balmer’s multi-billion dollar new stadium opens at the start of the year as he tries to move his team out from the Los Angeles Lakers’ shadow. Harden’s role should also expand this season, with Paul George leaving the team in free agency to sign a four-year $212 million deal with the 76ers. The big three, Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook, will be the stars that open the new stadium and try to win the first championship in franchise history.

Harden has had a tumultuous career since he left the Houston Rockets five seasons ago. The former MVP played for three teams in five seasons, bouncing from team to team without finding a club that meshed with his talents. On the star-studded Clippers, he changed his game, looking to pass first instead of the isolation assassin in his younger days.

The 15-year NBA veteran has earned seven All-NBA teams and ten NBA All-Star games while making over $300 million in his career before signing this contract extension. However, his playoff resume lacks an NBA or conference finals championship.

NBA officials admitted to missing a foul call in the closing seconds of a game Wednesday night, which led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 108-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Both teams are vying for better playoff positions deep in the regular season.

Referee Kevin Scott said in a pool report that the crew reviewed the final play after the game. They concluded that Clippers forward Paul George made contact with the 76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr., who was driving to the basket in an attempt to score the winning basket.

“In real time the crew interpreted that play as the defender jumping vertically,” Scott said. “However, in post-game video review we did observe some slight drift to his left by the defender George, and a foul should have been ruled.”

With the defeat, the 76ers fell to 39-34 on the season, putting them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and a half-game behind the Miami Heat. The Clippers improved to 45-27, keeping them in fourth in the Western Conference and providing some breathing room ahead of the Pelicans and Mavericks.

76ers coach Nick Nurse vigorously fought with referees during the game and still expressed dismay for multiple calls afterward. By then, however, he seemed to accept the officiating error as a part of the game.

“I looked it on our computer screen a couple times [and] I thought there was certainly contact,” Nurse said. “Certainly as much as the last two or three that got called and-1s at the other end. And that’s all. I just thought it was enough contact to call. But that’s the way it goes sometimes.”

With most of the regular season behind both teams, the 76ers and Clippers seem destined to very different postseason paths. Philadelphia, which has underperformed with reigning MVP Joel Embiid on the roster, could face a Play-In Tournament series if the team doesn’t make up ground quickly. The Clippers have a safer postseason berth but will have to navigate an extremely competitive Western Conference to reach the Finals.

In the summer of 2019, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two pick swaps. The blockbuster trade was the biggest move for a single player in NBA history, in a memorable summer that saw some of the league’s top talent relocate to new teams. The massive haul given up by the Clippers for George was also an insurance move to guarantee the team landed two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.

The common thought was that the Thunder would tank for the next few years, loading up on draft capital and making moves for bigger stars down the road. They tried that method for a few years, and were able to stockpile more than 15 first-round picks over the next seven years. While playing the long game, led by general manager Sam Presti, the Thunder built a strong, young team in a much shorter span than many expected.

Over the past three seasons, Oklahoma City has drafted Josh Giddey, Chet Holgrem and Jalen Williams, all of whom are currently starters and each averaging at least 10 points, four rebounds and two assists per game. Along with Gilgeous-Alexander, the young core has proved that they aren’t just a team with potential in a few years but rather a championship contender today.

In that span, the Thunder also drafted Brandon Clarke, Immanuel Quickly, Alperen Shengun and Derrick Lively II, but all were traded before they could ever put on an OKC jersey. Despite trading them away before playing a single minute with the team, the hit rate on the Thunder’s draft picks by Presti is unrivaled by any other team and should be cause for their concern.

Even with their untouchable drafting record, the primary cause for the Thunder’s success has been Gilgeous-Alexander. For the second straight year, the 25-year-old is averaging more than 30 points per game, along with 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2 per contest. Though at the time of the trade,  Gilgeous-Alexander seemed like just a small piece of the pie offered for George, his 30 points per game is a feat George has yet to accomplish in his career. He also received first-team All-NBA honors in 2023, as opposed to George last making the list in 2019, his final year with the Thunder.

The draft picks offered for George would have been enough for most teams to accept the deal, but the addition of Gilgeous-Alexander was an unforeseen luxury for Oklahoma City. Since the trade, the Clippers have seen more success in the regular season and playoffs, but have had an overall better team than the Thunder. Though it hasn’t played out in long-term winning just yet, the common thought around the league is that Gilgeous-Alexander has been a better and more impactful player than George.

As of March 16, the Thunder are currently tied for first in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets with a 47-20 record. The team is third in points per game at 120.7, second in field goal percentage at 50% and first in three-point shooting at 39.4%. Oklahoma City is also the second-youngest team in the NBA with an average age of 24.12 years old, but their lack of experience hasn’t stopped their regular season success.

With their young roster at the top of the standings Oklahoma City is in unfamiliar territory, but that shouldn’t mean they should be counted out. The last time the team made the NBA Finals was in 2012, with a squad that was drafted and developed by the team in the form of Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kevin Durant. Yes, it’s unfair to compare this year’s team to the one from 12 years ago, but they look and feel similar, and are currently carrying themselves like the team that was three games away from the franchise’s first NBA Championship.

P.J. Tucker is setting records this NBA season – but not ones that have to do with on-court success.

The Los Angeles Clippers forward was fined $75,000 by the NBA for making public trade demands, per a statement released by the league.

It’s the largest fine an NBA player has had to pay since August when a similar scenario played out with superstar guard James Harden. He was also penalized for making public trade demands.

In a conversation with Andscape’s Marc Spears, Tucker explained his desire to have an impactful role on a team other than the Clippers.

“I want to be somewhere where I’m needed, wanted and can do it all,” he said. “I’m hoping to go somewhere else whether I get bought out and choose where I go or where I can play.”

This conversation sparked the NBA’s interest and fined Tucker for his public remarks on trade speculation.

Tucker voicing his frustrations, mirroring Harden’s prior dissatisfaction, highlights how players are more open than ever to voice their displeasure with an organization, despite the risk of fines. With player empowerment being a theme across the NBA for several years now, it seems that players are using their platform to maximize their power in landing the best deals and trades for themselves.

On Tuesday, the NBA and Los Angeles Clippers announced that the 2026 NBA All-Star game will be hosted at the Clippers’ new stadium, the Intuit Dome.

“The Intuit Dome promises to present a unique and innovative live basketball experience which will be an extraordinary venue for the NBA All-Star Game in 2026,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in the joint press conference.

The Clippers currently share the Crypto.com Arena, formally Staples Center with the Los Angeles Lakers, and have been since 1999. The Intuit Dome is currently still under construction but is set to be the new home of the Clippers beginning in the 2024-25 season. It will be located in Inglewood, California, near the Kia Forum and the new Sofi Stadium.

“We are building Intuit Dome to house and showcase the best basketball players in the world, and we are honored they will all be under our roof for NBA All-Star,” Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said.

Upon its completion, the Intuit Dome is set to be the NBA’s showcase arena with up-to-date and modern technology that has yet to be implemented in the league’s other venues. Similar to its neighboring Sofi Stadium, the Intuit Dome will also feature a similar architectural style and 360-degree double-sided jumbotron with views for all 18,000 fans to see.

The new arena will also have what the Clippers are calling “The Wall,” a 51-row set of stands designed to create noise and distract opposing teams. It will hold 300 standing-room-only seats, as well as season ticket membership and single-game packages. The Wall seating is only available for Clippers fans, and reselling tickets in that area of the arena will have to be pre-approved by a ticketing company. The stadium will also hold a record 1,500 bathroom facilities, about three times the average in other NBA arenas.

The city of Los Angeles has held the All-Star weekend competitions seven times in the past, with the latest coming in 2018 at the then Staples Center in downtown L.A. Many All-Star weekends in the past taking place in Southern California have been dominated by the more popular Lakers, leaving the Clippers fans and players in the shadows of their internationally recognized counterparts. However, with the Intuit Dome and its role set to host these events down the line, the team has hope that its new home can drive popularity for the team to previously unseen levels.

“We took what we saw in other NBA arenas and we tried to go a step further,” Ballmer said. “This isn’t just for our fans to enjoy the experience. If our fans do their job right, it’s going to help our team play better, and that’s super important to us.”

Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers agreed to a three-year, $152 million extension this week, which will keep the star forward on the West Coast until 2026.

The extension is actually a pay cut for Leonard, who could have requested a deal for more money over four years. He told reporters after the Clipper’s 126-120 win over the Raptors that he was taking less money so that the team could retain fellow stars James Harden and Paul George as well.

“With the conversation that I have with them about it, I think for the most part everybody is coming back,” Leonard said. “So with me signing an extension, I think it gives us a chance to sign both of those players.”

George confirmed after the game that the deal will incentivize him to stay with the team when his own extension negotiations begin.

“I mean, absolutely,” George said. “You secure and lock in Kawhi. Definitely leaves the door open for myself, but very, very optimistic something will get done on my behalf, as well.”

The Clippers struggled early on in the 2023-24 season after acquiring Harden from the 76ers on November 1. The team bounced back well, however, and are currently fourth in the Western Conference with a 24-13 record.

All three of the team’s stars are well past the age of 30, which is advantageous now but could become a detriment in later seasons. Leonard reportedly cited this as another reason to accept a shorter deal, as he plans to reevaluate at age 35 whether he is able to continue in the NBA.

With Leonard under contract for another three years, Harden will likely be the next to begin extension talks with Los Angeles. The former MVP is in the final year of the two-year, $68 million deal he signed with Philadelphia, leaving it to Los Angeles to create a new contract to keep him long-term. George has a player option worth $48 million that he can exercise to stay with the team through the 2024-25 season.

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to trade James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers, which follows a June trade request that will see Harden on his fourth team in four seasons. 

The deal calls for the Clippers to exchange Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Kenyon Martin Jr., a 2028 first-round pick, and additional draft assets to the 76ers in exchange for the 10-time NBA All-Star.

Harden will join stars Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook in search of the Clippers’ first championship.

Harden averaged 21 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game with the 76ers last season.

Anticipating a major payday, Harden decided to pick up a $35.6 million option and request a trade rather than enter free agency, which set off a standoff between Harden and Daryl Morey, president of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Unable to find a deal before the opening of training camp, Harden skipped the team’s media day and its first day of training camp before rejoining the team. At the start of the regular season, he again distanced himself from the 76ers and was not present during the 76ers season opener.

With Harden, the Clippers will look to boost their overall outlook. The Clippers, who are off to a 2-1 start, will hope Harden’s arrival will add more quality to the term.

Last week it was reported that the Clippers had paused their Harden.

A recent report suggests that the Los Angeles Clippers are temporarily halting trade negotiations for James Harden in order to focus on the beginning of the regular season. Harden has been in a prolonged and bitter battle with the Philadelphia 76ers, refusing to play for the team despite still being under contract.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski delivered the update from the Clippers’ side of the negotiating table, noting that Los Angeles has been trying to acquire Harden for some time now and has not heard anything solid in return from Philadelphia. Wojnarowski also said that the Clippers could return to talks later in the season and are apparently one of the only teams that have shown interest in Harden.

“At least for the foreseeable future, the Clippers are stepping back from these trade talks about James Harden,” Wojnarowski said on an ESPN broadcast Wednesday. “They’re essentially pausing them. They have talked with Philadelphia for months about a trade. They’ve made their best offer for Harden and they are now going to start their season and see what this team looks like with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, a healthy Paul George. Now the Clippers may revisit this at some point, but they know they’re the only bidder for James Harden. They’re the only team that’s made a serious offer. They don’t want to bid against themselves, and again, while they may revisit this later in the season, I think the Sixers have to wonder have we already gotten the best offer we’re gonna get for James Harden?”

Harden, a 14-season veteran and the 2018 MVP, went to Philadelphia in 2022 through a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, where the guard was also reportedly unhappy because of mediocre results. In his time with Philadelphia thus far, the team has made the postseason twice but has not managed to defeat the Boston Celtics, losing to them both times in the conference finals and semifinals, respectively.

In the offseason, Harden began to express profound discontent with Philadelphia’s management, calling President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey a “liar” and requesting to be traded. The team has not yet fulfilled that request, causing Harden to skip training camp. In response, Philadelphia cut him off from all team activities, effectively icing him out ahead of the start of the season. The team is playing without him for now, and for every game he misses, he may have to pay incremental fines that will gradually rise to $1 million per absence. Harden reportedly tried to rejoin the team for a road trip but was not allowed on the plane.

With Harden refusing to play for the 76ers and the team reportedly refusing to let him return, a trade seems like the only course of action to rectify this situation. But with the Clippers, who already have Leonard and George, pausing negotiations, it appears that Harden could remain isolated for the foreseeable future.

Despite giving up assets for him, the Clippers decided opted not to guarantee Eric Gordon‘s $21 million contract last week. This move to cut the 34-year-old saved Los Angeles over $100 million on its projected tax bill.

However, Gordon’s agents, Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski about the new deal. His deal is for $6 million over the two years with a player option in the last year.

The veteran guard was on the Rockets from 2016 to 2023, as the Clippers traded guards Luke Kennard and John Wall for Gordon. This also involved a pick swap in the 2023 NBA Draft with Houston moving up ten spots from pick 30 to 20, which had them taking Villanova forward Cam Whitmore. Los Angeles drafted guard Kobe Brown from Missouri with the 30th overall pick.

Shortly after the Gordon move was made, ESPN’s Bobby Marks states that it reduced the Clippers’ projected tax bill from $169 million to $59 million. This sort of jump in tax is possible due to the rate increase for every $5 million of salary above the tax level, and it is way higher for repeater teams.

The Clippers are an example of a team being on the repeater tax, as they are known for spending big and are penalized with stricter roster-building rules by the new collective bargaining agreement. They had to do a salary dump essentially with Gordon, as he played valuable minutes for the team this past season.

The former Clipper averaged 11 points and 42.3% 3-point shooting in 22 regular-season games since he was acquired from the Rockets in February of this year. Record-wise, they were right behind the Suns last year, going 44-38, and were fifth in the Western Conference.

Gordon had heavy interest once he was available once he was cut from the team that drafted him. He became one of the top free agents once he was waived and hit the market, as he joins a loaded roster looking for a championship next season.

He was almost on the Suns before, as Gordon signed a four-year, nearly $60 million offer sheet in Phoenix before it was matched by New Orleans back in 2012. The former Pelican was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year back in 2017 with the Rockets and has been an established journeyman that can provide depth for a win-now Phoenix team.

Their roster, other than the Suns’ core four, has been rearranged through the draft, trades, and free agency. This is an easy potential playoff team, as last season they were fourth-best in the Western Conference, going 45-37.

The main four take up most of their cap space, as adding a veteran among the young players on the Phoenix roster should prove to be valuable. Names like forward Kevin Durant, guard Devin Booker, center Deandre Ayton, and recently traded for guard Bradley Beal headline the Sun’s roster.

Back in June, Phoenix acquired Beal and guard Jordan Goodwin, and forward Isaiah Todd from Washington in a three-team deal that also included the Pacers. The Suns sent guards Chris Paul and Landry Shamet, five future second-round picks, four future pick swaps, and cash considerations to the Wizards. Phoenix sent one future second-round pick to Indiana and Washington also sent a future second-round pick to Indiana.

In the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, the Suns selected Dayton forward Toumani Camara and in free agency, have picked up forwards Keita Bates-Diop and Yuta Watanabe. Phoenix also signed the center Drew Eubanks, along with Chimezie Metu, giving depth versatility playing forward or center. Even in a crowded room, Gordon is looking to make some noise as a valuable role player.

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly preparing to waive Chris Paul, which would end his three-year tenure with the team and allow the team to pursue younger talent. Reports suggest that Paul wants to sign with a title contender for the 2023-24 season, and based on his ability at age 38, the 12-time All-Star could end up on a number of rosters.

The current front runner to sign Paul is rumored to be the Los Angeles Lakers, who may be in need of a point guard if they fail to resign D’Angelo Russell. Based on the team’s run to the Western Conference Final this season with LeBron James at the helm, Paul would likely embrace another opportunity in the Western Conference.

Even if the Lakers don’t come calling, however, another team is reportedly interested in signing Paul in what could be a highly anticipated reunion. The Clippers, Paul’s former team for six seasons from 2011 to 2017, are also in the market for a point guard with Russell Westbrook heading for free agency. The Clippers and Paul failed to win a championship in their first stint together but could capitalize on a fresh roster at this later point in his career.

Beyond the Lakers and Clippers, who are clear front runners to sign Paul to a new deal, many other teams could benefit from the veteran’s services. The Minnesota Timberwolves were fringe playoff contenders this year but suffered as a result of inconsistent play at point guard. Meanwhile, the 76ers will have to fill a massive void as James Harden prepares for free agency.

Teams like the Bucks or Bulls already have options at point guard but could go for a short-term upgrade at the position by signing Paul. On the very far outside of this conversation, there could even be a path forward in Phoenix, as the Suns haven’t technically parted ways with Paul yet and could reach a different deal with the longtime star. The risks in signing Paul are obvious to any team that pursues him, but the upside for win-now teams is clear as well.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George suffered a knee injury Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder that many feared would be serious in the immediate aftermath. But further medical tests on Wednesday confirmed that it was a knee sprain that could allow the veteran to return in two to three weeks.

Concerns about George’s injury were mostly a result of its nature, as the Clippers star landed awkwardly on his right leg after grabbing a rebound. He was later forced to use crutches and left the stadium in a cart.

George’s absence for several weeks could still hurt the Clippers, as he will have to miss the regular season regardless of his health upon reevaluation, but for a player who has had a number of long-term injuries over the course of his career, a few weeks was far from the worst-case scenario.

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Without the All-Star forward on the floor for the final games of the regular season, the Clippers will still have to carry on as they cling to a guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference. The team is currently in fifth but could easily lose places to a number of teams close behind.

Following George’s injury, fellow star forward Kawhi Leonard said that the team would adjust to the loss and close out the regular season well.

“Next man up,” Leonard said. “We’ll see. Like I said, we’ve got a group of guys that still want to win and like to play basketball. So we’ll see what happens.”

If George is not fit to play upon reevaluation in a few weeks, then the injury will almost certainly cut into his playing time in the postseason. The Clippers can feasibly survive the rest of the regular season without him, but it would be much more difficult for them to advance far in the playoffs, particularly in a closely contested first-round matchup against a similar seed.

Toronto Raptors shooting guard Fred VanVleet had choice words for the officiating staff after the team’s 108-100 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night. VanVleet was called for a technical foul in the third quarter, one of 23 fouls the team committed throughout the contest.

According to VanVleet, his technical was called by referee Ben Taylor after he tried to motivate his teammates to work past the poor officiating. He admitted to using profanities in describing the referees’ calls on the court and was similarly upset speaking to reporters after the game.

“I don’t mind it. I’ll take the fine. I don’t really care. I thought Ben Taylor was terrible tonight,” VanVleet said. “I think that most nights, you know out of the three, there’s one or two that just [expletive] the game up. It’s been like that a couple of games in a row. Denver was tough, obviously.”

Since 2016, VanVleet’s rookie season, he has received eight technical fouls, three of which were assessed by Taylor with another coming with him on the floor, according to the Associated Press.

“Most of the refs are trying hard, I like a lot of the refs, they’re trying hard, they’re pretty fair, and communicate well,” VanVleet said. “And then you got the other ones who just want to be [expletive] and just kind of [expletive] up the game. And no one’s coming to see that. They come to see the players.”

By contrast to Toronto’s 23 fouls Wednesday, the Clippers only committed 18, though the Raptors made 13 of 14 free throw attempts. VanVleet was not the only member in the Toronto locker room to complain after the game, as coach Nick Nurse agreed that the team didn’t adjust well to the referees’ foul standards.

“We weren’t getting our money’s worth on a lot of those,” Nurse said. “Probably a little bit of contact. We didn’t adjust because we were back in the same situation.”

With a 32-35 record, the Raptors are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and seem firmly on their way to the play-in tournament. The team has gone 4-4 since the All-Star break, however, with a number of teams trailing closely behind in the conference standings.

Several years ago, Russell Westbrook going to the Los Angeles Clippers would have sent shockwaves through the NBA. Together with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the team would have become an instant championship contender. But times change.

In the league’s current landscape, Leonard remains a star player and George is still an All-Star at 32, but the Clippers’ decision to sign Westbrook has been met with more caution than excitement. Regardless of whether he proves to be a useful contributor, the move is directly at odds with the Clippers’ immediate plans to win a championship.

Westbrook’s path to the Clippers in itself demonstrates his diminishing value as a player. After what can only be described as a failed stint as a member of the Lakers, during which he suffered from dreadful shooting efficiency, the guard was traded to the Jazz in a three-way deal. Utah promptly waived Westbrook and he landed back in Los Angeles for the Clippers after clearing waivers. Once a star addition, he is now more of a gamble than anything.

Analysts have generally reacted negatively to the Clippers’ newest acquisition. Multiple bookmakers went so far as to lower Los Angeles’ championship odds after the team signed Westbrook and several media outlets altered their projections as well. The most optimistic out there have elected to take a “wait-and-see” approach, but with the postseason fast approaching, this isn’t an assessment the Clippers can afford.

Facing an ever-improving Western Conference with a number of aging stars, the Clippers need more than a deep playoff run to make seasons worth of effort worthwhile. Since signing Leonard in 2019, the team has tried and failed to build a roster capable of winning a championship. There are only so many opportunities remaining and adding Westbrook to the mix in 2023 doesn’t immediately inspire the confidence it may have in the past.

But in truth, the puzzle surrounding Westbrook extends beyond the Clippers, because his recent regression makes him unsuitable and unignorable in equal measure. Whether a team is rebuilding or pushing for the postseason, Westbrook appears to be more of an obstacle than a contributor. On the other hand, his career numbers ensure that he must be signed somewhere. In this sense, the Clippers aren’t hurting their own championship chances — yet. They’re simply the team willing to take the chance.

LeBron James had to be held back by security at the Crypto.com Arena Tuesday after a Los Angeles Clippers fan’s comments caused him to stop and turn in the tunnel at halftime.

The fan reportedly made comments about James’ poor performance and receding hairline, common criticisms of the 38-year-old at a time of profound struggle for the Lakers. Though he reacted as though he clearly heard the heckler, security ultimately intervened before he could properly respond. The Lakers star went on to score 46 points in the contest, though the Clippers earned the last laugh in the local rivalry game with a comfortable 133-115 win.

As James rapidly approaches the all-time scoring record, which currently belongs to longtime Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the luster of the achievement will likely be dulled somewhat by his team’s poor play in the 2022-23 season. Even with the return of Anthony Davis and a win over the lowly Spurs Wednesday, Los Angeles only has a 23-26 record, 13th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference standings.

Though the expanded playoff format keeps the team in contention for the time being, the Lakers’ postseason hopes dwindle with every poor showing, of which there have been many this season. James has been consistently excellent despite his age, but Los Angeles’ woes around him have been just as persistent. The team’s stad-studded roster, which also includes Davis, Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley, simply hasn’t played to expectations.

Long-term frustration with the team’s performance is clearly taking a toll on James, who has expressed his frustration in a variety of ways over the course of the season. A near-miss conflict with a heckler is just the recent of his displays, which have included multiple tense press conferences and poorly concealed reactions on the court. He is literally making history as an individual while the team struggles around him.

Kawhi Leonard declined his $36 million player option for the 2021-22 season. However, the two-time Finals MVP has reportedly decided to re-sign with the L.A. Clippers, with the terms of the deal being hashed out.

Before this past season, Leonard was non-committal about his plans in free agency. “Not saying I’m going anywhere else or staying here, but I’m just focused on the season,” he told reporters. “Obviously, if I’m healthy, the best decision is to decline the player option, but that doesn’t mean I’m leaving or staying.” 

Leonard is coming off another stellar year during which he was named an All-Star for the fifth time and averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and a career-high 5.2 assists per game in the regular season. Unfortunately, his season came to an unexpected end in the playoffs after he partially tore his ACL in Game 4 of L.A,’s second-round series against the Utah Jazz. L.A. won the next two games to advance to its first-ever Western Conference Finals, only to lose to the Phoenix Suns in six games.

The Clippers announced that Leonard had successful surgery to repair the torn ACL on July 13, but there is still no timetable for the return of the two-time Finals MVP.

The Los Angeles Clippers are interested in signing Lonzo Ball.

The New Orleans Pelicans point guard will be a free agent this summer, and the Pelicans are unable to match a significant offer for Ball.

Ball, who turns 24 in October, averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. His 14.6 points was a career-high, and he improved his three-point shooting (37.8 percent).

The Pelicans finished the regular season 31-41 and missed out on the play-in tournament in the Western Conference.

The Clippers had previously shown interest in the point guard. Before the March trade deadline, the team explored potential deals, but no trade was drawn up. However, the Clippers will have a tough time exploring ways to either trade or sign the soon-to-be restricted free agent. Los Angeles will be unable to sign Ball if All-Star Kawhi Leonard re-signs with the team. It would put the team over the salary cap.

A sign-and-trade deal could be used, but the Clippers do not have the assets to pull it off. The Clippers gave up the majority of their valuable assets when they traded for Paul George. The Pelicans will not be interested in any of the Clippers’ veterans if a sign-and-trade deal were to happen. Additionally, Los Angeles is not the only team interested in the young point guard. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks are among other interested teams. They also have more assets to give New Orleans in exchange for Ball’s services.

The young point guard could be a good fit with the Clippers. The 24-year-old has experience playing next to a ball-dominant scorer in Brandon Ingram. Ball would have no trouble playing alongside Leonard and George if Los Angeles is able to put together a fair offer.