Chris Paul Watching Ex Teams in NBA Cup Semifinals

Merlin sees Chris Paul in the crowd for the Thunder vs Spurs NBA Cup semifinal, according to Chris Haynes. Paul opened the season with the Clippers on a one year 3.6 million deal but Los Angeles announced he would no longer be with the team on Dec. 3. The 40 year old, who played for the Spurs last season and the Thunder in 2019 20, averaged just 2.9 points and 3.3 assists while the Clippers went 5 16. ESPN’s Shams Charania says his leadership style "clashed" with the Clippers and he "wasn't on speaking terms with head coach Tyronn Lue for 'several weeks'." He still plans to play elsewhere and has been linked to the Timberwolves and Rockets. Merlin notes a veteran who has announced plans to retire but still seeks one last run is a strange spell. His presence at the game reads like a scouting visit and a message to former teams. If a contender wants steady floor handling and playoff know how he remains a tempting option, though clubs will weigh chemistry risks.