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NBA Free Agency: Chris Paul agrees to sign with, return to Los Angeles Clippers
David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Chris Paul has made it known that this could be his final season playing in the NBA. After entering free agency this offseason, the association now knows where he’ll be spending it.

Per reports by ESPN’s Shams Charania this morning and according to his representation, Paul has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. That pairs him with a quality team as the latest of several moves for LA this offseason and also sends Paul back to the franchise where he has spent one of the longest stretches of his career as a player with the Clippers.

“Chris Paul has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, CAA’s Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan and Jessica Holtz told ESPN,” Charania tweeted on Monday. “Paul had multiple suitors, but chose the contending Clippers and their shared history in L.A. for his likely final, 21st NBA season.”

Paul, who just turned 40, has completed two decades in the NBA. He, a dozen-time All-Star and eleven-time selection as All-NBA, spent year twenty for him this past season with a lone campaign with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.

Of his 20-year career, the most notable stretch for Paul, though, was his six seasons with the Clippers from 2011-2017. He averaged 18.8 points (47.5% FG, 37.8% 3PT), 9.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game and be named five times each as an All-Star and as All-NBA, three of those being All-NBA First Team, while also being named in every season as First Team All-Defense. He earned MVP consideration in five of those seasons as well. With that, Paul ranks highly among their all-time leader in several categories, most notably in assists.

The Clippers had almost all of their best seasons in franchise history while Paul was there during the era of ‘Lob City’ alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Los Angeles went 313-163 (.664) over his career with the team, including four of their seven seasons where they won 50-plus games and each of of their four best records ever. They’d make the playoffs every season but never go past the second round in the Western Conference.

Now, in his return, Paul will play with an all-new cast built over the past several seasons. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden headline the roster along with Ivica Zubac while, this offseason, the Clippers have added Bradley Beal, John Collins, and Brook Lopez through trades or other signings.

Considering retirement could soon be coming for Paul, this is nostalgic for him to be returning to the Clippers. It’s now a matter of how far the team can go with him now in what could be his final season taking a court.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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