The Los Angeles Clippers dropped a bombshell in the early morning hours on Wednesday, announcing that future Hall of Famer Chris Paul is no longer with the team.

Paul posted an Instagram story just before 3 a.m. ET revealing he had learned he was being sent home to Los Angeles from Atlanta, where the Clippers were set to face the Hawks on Wednesday.

Shortly afterward, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank confirmed the news in a statement.

The Official Word From Lawrence Frank

Frank texted a statement to ESPN confirming the organization's decision:

"We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team. We will work with him on the next step of his career. Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we've struggled. We're grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise."

The timing of the move has left the basketball world stunned, especially considering Paul had rejoined the Clippers in late July on a one-year deal with hopes of finishing his legendary 21-year career with the franchise where he spent six seasons from 2011 to 2017.

A Rough Season For CP3

The 40-year-old guard's final stint with the Clippers did not go as planned.

Paul appeared in just 16 games this season, averaging a career-low 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in only 14.3 minutes per game.

In his final game with the team during Monday's 140-123 loss in Miami, he logged 15 minutes while putting up eight points and three assists.

This marks a dramatic fall from his 2024-25 campaign with the San Antonio Spurs, where he started all 82 games and remained an effective contributor and a key voice in the locker room.

Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania last month that Paul planned to retire at the end of this season, which makes this decision that much more baffling.

Salary Cap Implications

Paul signed a one-year, $3.6 million minimum contract with the Clippers in July, and the deal was fully guaranteed. The contract carries a cap hit of approximately $2.3 million.

To officially move on from Paul, the Clippers would have to waive him and pay out the full salary, agree to a buyout, or look to trade him once he becomes trade-eligible on December 15.

It appears the Clippers may keep Paul on the roster through December 15 with hopes of finding a trade partner, which would allow another team to acquire the 12-time All-Star for the remainder of his final season.

A Season In Shambles

The Clippers currently sit at 5-16, having lost 14 of their last 16 games including five straight heading into Wednesday's matchup with Atlanta.

The franchise finds itself near the bottom of the Western Conference standings in what was supposed to be a contending season.

The struggles go beyond Paul's limited production. Bradley Beal, one of their biggest offseason acquisitions, suffered a season-ending hip fracture in early November after playing just six games.

Kawhi Leonard missed 10 consecutive games due to foot and ankle injuries, though he has returned in recent weeks and is averaging 26.4 points on 51.8 percent shooting in 11 appearances.

Even with James Harden putting together a strong individual season at 26.9 points and 8.4 assists per game — including a franchise-record 55-point outing against Charlotte on November 22 — the Clippers have been unable to turn things around.

A Painful Pattern

This marks the second time the Clippers have had a difficult and abrupt ending with one of their all-time star players from the Lob City era.

In January 2018, Blake Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons just months after signing a five-year, $171 million deal when the organization decided to go in a different direction.

For Paul, who was instrumental in transforming the Clippers into a legitimate playoff contender during his first tenure with the franchise, the ending is a bitter final chapter with a team he helped put on the map.

The legendary point guard now waits to see what the next step of his career looks like as he approaches the end of his remarkable 21-year journey in the NBA.