Chris Paul Speaks on Leaving Clippers, Joining Rockets

I think most Clippers’ fans have generally understood why Chris Paul wanted to get out of LA. Failing to reach the Western Conference Finals for six years on relatively stacked teams has been tough for us, so it’s hard to imagine how difficult it has been for the players and staff. After years of critics complaining about the Clippers seeming like a stale product, the 2016-2017 season for the first time felt like the Clippers were out of ideas— and fun.

Everyone involved appeared to want a fresh start or a change of pace this summer, and Chris Paul was certainly one. At bottom, as Chris Paul says in this interview, “It was not only a good time for change for me, but for the team too”.

He also stated, definitively, what we knew since the trade occurred: he wanted to help the Clippers’ organization get something in return for him. One of Chris Paul’s best assists, therefore, was in his departure.

I was bummed about Chris Paul leaving the Clippers, and most Clippers’ fans probably were too, at least for a while. This interview (which is absolutely fantastic, by the way), should provide some closure.

While I would love for the Clippers to crush Paul the Rockets in a playoff series this season, I also have to wish Chris Paul luck in his post-Clippers future. He was great for the Clippers, and I will remember his time in LA extremely fondly.

Read the article and interview here.