We now know the real reason Chris Paul was shockingly waived by the Clippers

Billy Heyen

•
We now know the real reason Chris Paul was shockingly waived by the Clippers image

Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers parted ways in shocking fashion.

Where did that come from? What happened?

Those are the questions that the NBA world is asking on Wednesday after the Clippers decided overnight to get rid of the future Hall of Fame point guard.

Paul is 40 years old and only playing 14 minutes per night off the bench, but he's still Chris Paul. Even in a stretch of losing 14 of their last 16 games, the Clippers could've kept CP3 around and no one would've thought that was odd in any way.

The odd thing is choosing to release him.

MORE: Inside the kind of college basketball win that only happens in Syracuse, N.Y.

Why did the Clippers waive Chris Paul?

According to Paul's former teammate Lou Williams, it sounds like Paul may have been speaking his mind.

"From what I've gathered that brought an end to this abruptly was there were a few scenarios in which CP3 was holding people accountable, from players to staff, from coaching staff up to the front office," Williams said Wednesday on a podcast appearance.

"From what I understand, there was a situation where he even addressed the team and apologised and said, 'My criticisms are coming from a good place. I want us to be a good team, I want us to get this thing right.' He was just holding guys accountable. Now, how some of that talk was taken or interpreted, that's up for the players and coaching staff that was involved and how they felt about it.

"Down the line, there was another scenario where he was critical of the front office as well, and I think that was the one that broke the camel's back — that was the straw that broke the camel's back when he had some criticisms for the front office as well."

MORE: Why Chris Paul can't sign with the Lakers – yet

MORE: Famous rapper Toosii commits to play college football in the ACC

Paul has always been a leader on and off the court, including for a long time with the players' association.

The Clippers had an odd offseason, essentially constructing the oldest roster possible. Paul was a part of that, sure, but he wasn't the main reason for their struggles this season.

He may very well wind up in a much better spot to contend in what is slated to be his final NBA season.

It doesn't make the timing or decision to cut Paul any less bizarre.

More news:

News Correspondent