Tyronn Lue Denies Rift With Chris Paul, Clippers

Tyronn Lue pushed back on reports that he stopped talking to Chris Paul after the Clippers sent Paul home and moved on early in the season. Lue said "That ain't true" and asked "How he gonna play and I'm not talking to him?" Players were "not happy about it," yet the organization acted amid reports that Paul and his leadership style clashed with the coaching staff. Merlin senses a locker room frayed by respect and fatigue. Paul averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes, had announced his intent to retire, and faced a coaching group reportedly "at wit's end." With teammates saying Paul had "no communication" with Lue, the split reads less like surprise and more like the end of a chapter.