Meeting the needs of a veteran like Chris Paul will be crucial if he intends to reunite with the LA Clippers at this stage of his career. He has made memories that will never be forgotten, and with a chance to bring nostalgia to Clipper Nation, executive Lawrence Frank should try even harder to convince the veteran guard to sign.
However, Frank does not need to persuade much, as playing in the city of Inglewood, California, is a major priority for Paul. He simply does not want to be away from his family the way he has been over the years.
Thus, the Clippers are in a win-win position, as they need a guy like Paul to join the second unit with Brook Lopez. These two would mesh extremely well together, utilizing their experience and polished skill sets to build on the flow ignited by James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac.
Unfortunately, when putting two and two together, playing in his desired location is not the only feature he is looking for in his next contract, If that was the case, Paul would have signed to the Clippers, or Los Angeles Lakers, on Monday, to end all of the rumors once and for all.
Furthermore, the latest rumors surrounding Paul suggest that he would like a role that LA does not currently have available. As sentimental as it would be if he returned, the Clippers’ front office should clear their minds of the idea of the 12-time All-Star starring in Intuit Dome.
Rumors say Chris Paul wants to start, and the LA Clippers are already at maximum capacity
Chris Paul, even as an aging veteran, is still a phenomenal point guard. He averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 assists last season, shot well from three-point land, and played in all 82 games.
Conversely, the LA Clippers can offer Paul whatever he would like, but one door that must remain locked is access to the starting five. He reportedly does not want a bench role, which is why executive Lawrence Frank should remove his name from the list.
Chris Paul wants to be a starter on his new team and the Clippers believe he will choose them as his next team, per @ByTimReynolds.
— APHoops (@APH00PS) July 2, 2025
“Chris Paul wants to be a starter, we're told, which is part of the reason why he evidently hasn't made up his mind yet. Clippers still very… pic.twitter.com/EkAfPnlzRh
It would be unreasonable for head coach Tyronn Lue to have Paul and James Harden in the backcourt, moving an All-Defensive talent like Kris Dunn or Derrick Jones Jr. to the bench.
Paul is a great defender, but the Clippers need the quick hands of Dunn and the athleticism of Jones Jr. As a result, LA should switch their pursuit to Malcolm Brogdon, another guard with solid credentials.