Chris Paul is a member of the Los Angeles Clippers once again, and the fanbase is rejoicing. But as the year goes on, it may become an issue that CP3 is going to be playing likely a much smaller role than he's typically used to playing.
Make no mistake about it: bringing Chris Paul back represents a huge cultural win for this organization. If there was one player from this century that means the most to the Clippers franchise, it's CP3. Maybe you could make arguments for Blake Griffin and Kawhi Leonard, but I think the best answer is pretty clearly Paul.
When Chris was traded from Los Angeles to the Houston Rockets in June 2017, it represented the end of the Lob City era. The fanbase always missed him after he left, and Paul was more than aware of what he meant to the organization and everyone that supports the Clippers. So as a result, getting him to return and don the Clippers colors one more time while he rides out the end of his career is the best outcome possible.
Fans can be euphoric all season long for no other reason than the simple fact that they'll get to see Chris Paul wearing the iconic number three jersey once again. But the problem of what exactly his role will be still looms large. We know that while he was considering where to sign, CP3 considered having a starting spot a pretty big factor for him. In the end, he opted to return to Southern California even though it likely means he won't be in the starting lineup every night.
Chris Paul may not play as big a role this season in Los Angeles
That says a lot about how much he values the Clippers. And even still, it makes one wonder how successful he'll be in what could be his final professional season. Paul has spoken publicly about the importance of his family, and how spending time with his 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter means a lot to him.
He revealed that he hasn't been able to live with his family for the past six NBA seasons. So in his mind, if he's going to continue playing, it would make the most sense to play a solid amount and not just be sitting on the bench, and acting as a locker room mentor.
What complicates things here is that we saw a report from a Clippers executive that stated there will be nights in the upcoming season where Chris doesn't get off the bench. That puts his situation in a weird place, and it's uncertain how effective he'll be able to be if he's not getting on the floor consistently.
We know that CP3 generally thrives in a high-usage role, and his effectiveness can dip when he's asked to do less (see his season in Golden State in 2023-24). This is going to be a pretty significant wrinkle the Clippers' coaching staff will have to figure out.