Chris Paul. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Chris Paul trade continues unceremonious final season for 12-time All-Star

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Feb 4, 2026 8:07 PM ET

Point guard Chris Paul isn't having the farewell season he envisioned, nor one he deserved.

The Los Angeles Clippers dealt him to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal also involving the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Paul, of course, has said he plans to retire after this season. He hasn't played since he and the Clippers agreed to part ways in December 2025 because his leadership style clashed with head coach Tyronn Lue. He may not return to the court in Toronto.

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania shared that the Raptors are not requiring him to report and may trade him again before the deadline on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. Longtime NBA insider Chris Haynes, meanwhile, reported Paul is expected to be waived.

Regardless, the 40-year-old guard won't attract many suitors. In 16 games this season, he has averaged a career-low 2.9 points per game on 32.1% shooting from the field, 3.3 assists per game and 1.8 rebounds per game.

The Raptors will not require Chris Paul to report to the team and could still discuss trades involving him over the next day. Toronto is now out of the tax. Brooklyn picks up an asset and cash to cover Agbaji's salary. The Clippers clear a roster spot and save $7 million in tax. https://t.co/2Bu0sGZzJB
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026

It seems Paul's career is destined to end unceremoniously, and that's a shame. A player of his stature shouldn't be relegated to irrelevancy during his final season.

Sources: Brooklyn Nets receiving $3.5 million from Los Angeles Clippers in the three-team trade involving Chris Paul and Toronto Raptors. CP3 is expected to be waived.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 4, 2026

Why Chris Paul deserves a better ending to his career

Paul has made 12 All-Star Games in his 21-year career and was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021. He ranks seventh among active players in points (23,058) and first in assists (12,552).

Paul — who has never won a championship — has received flak for his lack of success in the playoffs. However, not all of that is on him. He actually has a higher scoring average in the postseason (20 PPG) than he does in the regular season (16.8). That disproves the narrative that the guard isn't a big-game performer.

Now it's not all negative for Paul. He should make the Basketball Hall of Fame and is considered one of the top PGs in NBA history. In November 2025, The Athletic ranked him as the second-best PG since 2000, behind Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.

For that, he should be recognized, but he won't be unless another team adds him or if he plays for Toronto. Both of those seem unlikely.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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