Although Chris Paul was the full-time starting point guard for the San Antonio Spurs in 2024-25, even after they acquired De'Aaron Fox and noticed the promise from the eventual Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, he is expected to begin year 21 for the LA Clippers on the bench.
He would have easily been a starter had the Clippers been unable to sign Bradley Beal, but due to a buyout and words of motivation from James Harden, executive Lawrence Frank wanted to pursue the superstar, most remembered for his contributions with the Washington Wizards.
Furthermore, Beal will excel as the starting shooting guard, playing off Harden's role as the primary facilitator. There will likely be a strong shot selection from the three-time All-Star, numerous flashy buckets, and even some poster dunks stemming from his underrated bounce.
However, where Beal will not be able to thrive is through playmaking. He once averaged 6.6 assists in 40 games for the Wizards, but on the Suns, where he often had to create for others, the premier scorer recorded just 3.7 assists in 53 games during the 2024-25 season.
Additionally, Beal's pick-and-roll execution may not be as productive as Paul's, and a striking statistic related to this specific play in action highlights how competition could arise within the Clippers' starting five.
The LA Clippers may start Chris Paul next to James Harden at a later date due to guaranteed excellence in the pick-and-roll
With Chris Paul and Bradley Beal bringing comparable playstyles to the LA Clippers, head coach Tyronn Lue must meet with his assistants to settle the competition and discuss which player will get a championship closer to LA. Preseason and training camp will also play a role in the final decision.
Moreover, the Clippers already have Ivica Zubac, and they have added two big men in John Collins and Brook Lopez, who excel in the pick-and-roll. Thus, Lue should start the backcourt with two guards accustomed to maximizing this universal, two-man game, and that would be Paul alongside James Harden.
Through 2024-25, in the pick-and-roll, Paul posted 0.94 points per possession and Harden trailed at 0.84. This is impressive, and the valid argument for Paul to win the job is evident, as he recorded his statistics playing 82 games.
That said, the switch from Beal to Paul may occur a few months into the year, but in the end, both of Paul's wishes will be fulfilled by the Clippers; he is simply unaware of it yet.