This Ain’t How You Treat a Top-5 PG Ever

Chris Paul and the LA Clippers have parted ways.

Well, that was fast.

According to multiple reports, the Clippers told Paul to go home Tuesday night — in the MIDDLE of a five-game road trip.

Forget a text … they basically hit him with a “don’t even get on the bus.” And apparently, the tension had been bubbling for weeks.

Shams says Paul’s leadership style “clashed” with the team and that he hadn’t spoken to Ty Lue in several weeks.

That’s wild.

Chris Haynes reports CP3 even requested a meeting with Lue to clear the air about being labeled a negative presence, and Lue refused.

That’s not a clash… that’s a cold war.

Paul broke the news on Instagram, writing simply: “Just found out I’m being sent home.”

By Wednesday morning, it was official: CP3 was released.

Clippers president Lawrence Frank put out a statement that sounded like your ex trying to soften the breakup:

“We are parting ways with Chris… he will no longer be with the team… no one is blaming Chris for our underperformance.”

No one? Really? Because the timing sure looks like someone got blamed for a 5-16 start.

And look — let me be very clear: CP3’s return to the Clippers was supposed to be a farewell tour, not whatever this mid-season soap opera has turned into.

This was supposed to be nostalgic. Heartwarming. Maybe even a redemption arc.

Instead? A soap opera mixed with disrespect.

It’s insane for a guy who is:

• Top 5 point guard of all time

• A 12× All-Star

• An 11× All-NBA selection

• A member of the NBA 75 team

• A 6× steals leader

• A 5× assists leader

• Third all-time in assists

• One of only one humans alive with 20,000 points AND 10,000 assists

• Oh, and he helped lead a team to the Finals just a few years ago

Not only that — the Clippers called him a “legendary Clipper” in the same breath they showed him the door.

That’s like breaking up with somebody by saying, “You’re the love of my life, but also… get your stuff and go.”

Here’s the real issue: If CP3 and Ty Lue couldn’t even speak for weeks, that’s a failure on both sides, but the organization’s job is to manage strong personalities, especially ones with Hall of Fame résumés.

Sending him home mid-trip is just bad business. If you can’t communicate with Chris Paul — CHRIS PAUL — you’ve already lost.

My hope?

Send CP3 somewhere that actually respects vets and plays real basketball.

Send him somewhere with structure.

Somewhere he can CHASE that ring.

Send him back to OKC.

Yes, I said it.

Put him on a real contender with real culture, real leadership, and real chemistry. Let him close his career the right way — not in a Lakers-adjacent circus tent.

Because no matter how this ends, one thing remains true:

Chris Paul deserved better than being told to clock out mid-shift.