Chris Paul Trade Window Opens for Clippers

Dec. 15 made 79 recent free agents eligible to be traded, and among them is Chris Paul. He was sent home by the Clippers but remains on the roster and now can be moved. Paul said "I don't regret anything" and that he is "excited to be back here with my family." Reports say his "leadership style clashed with the Clippers" and he and Tyronn Lue "had not been on speaking terms for several weeks." Merlin sees a restless club and a veteran whose final season is a ticking question. Teams chasing a veteran floor general will call, but trade value is mixed given age and roster fit. Los Angeles may prefer a deal to reclaim assets rather than keep a fractured rotation, yet a fair return must appear first.