Clippers Part Ways with Chris Paul

The Los Angeles Clippers parted ways with veteran point guard Chris Paul early Wednesday morning in Atlanta, where the team is on a five-game road trip, effectively ending his second stint with the franchise less than two months into what was intended to be his final NBA season. The 40-year-old Paul, who announced his retirement plans on November 22, learned of the decision shortly before the Clippers' scheduled game against the Atlanta Hawks that night, following a 38-point loss to the Miami Heat on Monday that dropped their record to 5-16.

The move was not initiated by Paul, according to league sources, and came amid the Clippers' worst start in years, with the team ranking near the bottom of the Western Conference. Paul, a 12-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, had been gradually phased out of the rotation due to his age and the team's mounting injuries, including a season-ending hip issue for fellow offseason addition Bradley Beal. In 16 games this season, Paul averaged 14.3 minutes off the bench, scoring 2.9 points and recording 3.3 assists while shooting 32.1 percent from the field, all career lows. He did not play in the fourth quarter of the Heat game, joining James...