Clippers release G Chris Paul in late-night move
Wed Dec 3 5:58am ET
Field Level Media
With the Los Angeles Clippers struggling and veteran guard Chris Paul making little impact, the team released the 12-time All-Star in the wee hours Wednesday morning.
The Clippers (5-16) informed Paul of his release in Atlanta, where the club will look to snap a five-game losing skid on Wednesday against the Hawks.
Paul, 40, announced prior to this season -- his 21st in the NBA -- that it would be his last.
"We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team," Clippers president Lawrence Frank said in a statement, via ESPN. "We will work with him on the next step of his career.
"Chris is a legendary Clipper who had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we've struggled. We're grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise."
Paul confirmed the news himself on his Instagram account.
"Just Found Out I'm Being Sent Home," he wrote.
Signed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract last offseason, Paul rejoined a franchise with which he spent six seasons from 2011-17. This season, he averaged 2.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16 games off the bench.
Paul ranks second in NBA history in assists with 12,552 and second in steals with 2,728, trailing only Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton in both categories.
Paul, then with New Orleans, was named Rookie of the Year in 2006. He is a four-time All-NBA first-team selection, five-time NBA assists champion and six-time steals champion. A member of seven first-team all-defensive teams, he also was the MVP of the 2013 All-Star Game. Paul was named to the NBA's 75th anniversary team in 2021 and won Olympic gold medals with the United States in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.
He played with New Orleans for six seasons, then was traded to the Clippers in 2011. He later played for the Houston Rockets (2017-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20), Phoenix Suns (2020-23), Golden State Warriors (2023-24) and San Antonio Spurs (2024-25).
Paul has career averages of 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 1,370 (1,314 starts). He has not won an NBA title, getting to the NBA Finals only once, when his Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
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Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder (hip) is questionable for Wednesday's matchup in Houston after missing three straight games, keeping Russell Westbrook in a prominent ball-handling role. Westbrook has averaged 13.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.4 assists across his last five outings, including a 16-point, 12-rebound, 14-assist showing on Nov. 28. Malik Monk (shoulder), who is probable, has been volatile this season but still gains opportunity if Schroder remains sidelined, keeping him on the streaming radar.
Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (ankle) is probable for Wednesday's matchup with Brooklyn and is positioned for a larger role with Coby White (calf) sidelined. Jones has delivered steady production across his last five appearances, averaging 14.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, and he closed Monday's loss with 20 points in 30 minutes. He profiles as a useful short-term streamer for assists and low-turnover guard play. Ayo Dosunmu should see a slight usage bump if Jones is limited or experiences any setbacks.
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's meeting with Sacramento after missing Monday's game and moving in and out of the rotation recently. His last appearance featured 13 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes, but Houston has leaned heavily on small-ball lineups when he is unavailable. That shift pushed Aaron Holiday to 32 minutes Monday, putting him on the deep-league streaming radar, while Clint Capela stands to benefit if Houston leans back toward a traditional lineup. Adams remains a risky hold in most formats due to volatility.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball (illness) is probable for Wednesday's matchup with Portland after missing two straight games and continuing to navigate periodic injury management. Ball's recent stretch has been uneven, but he still averaged 4.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across his last five appearances, offering steady playmaking when active. His most recent outing saw three points, five rebounds, and four assists in 17 minutes. He profiles as a deep-league assists and steals streamer, while Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland handle the bulk of playmaking if he suffers a setback.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's matchup with Miami, putting him at risk of a third consecutive absence. Naji Marshall has absorbed most of the power forward minutes, producing 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists across his last five games and playing 33 minutes Monday. His balanced stat profile and stable role keep him firmly in the short-term streaming mix. Managers should continue to hold Washington, with Marshall gaining the biggest boost if his ankle keeps him out.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's game in Miami and could miss his third consecutive contest, keeping Dwight Powell and Anthony Davis in elevated roles. Powell has averaged 2.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists across his last five games. His only notable spike was a 33-minute outing on Nov. 29, which still keeps him in deep-league streamer territory rather than a standard-format target. Davis logged 32 minutes Monday and would remain the primary beneficiary if Gafford sits again.
Miami Heat guard/forward Norman Powell (ankle) is considered questionable for Wednesday's tilt against the Dallas Mavericks. Powell has appeared on the injury report quite often this season and is currently on it because of an ankle sprain. His absence would be a big blow for the Heat, as Powell leads the team in scoring and has gone for 30-plus points twice in his past four outings. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Dru Smith will probably log more minutes off the bench if Powell can't play on Wednesday. Jaquez Jr has been productive throughout the season, even with Powell in the lineup. However, he had an awful time against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, finishing with four points on 2-for-10 shooting.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Duncan Robinson (ankle) is at risk of missing a second consecutive game on Wednesday versus the Milwaukee Bucks, as the team has listed him as questionable for the matchup. Robinson is nursing a right ankle sprain and was out for the first time this season on Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks. Daniss Jenkins was elevated into the starting unit, finishing a low-scoring 99-98 win with six points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Even with Cade Cunningham in the lineup, Jenkins had the most shot attempts on the Pistons squad. However, he finished only 3-for-16 from the field, which left an ugly dent on Jenkins' fantasy line. In general, Jenkins has done well as a starter this season and will be a good fantasy option if he remains in the first unit against the defense-challenged Bucks.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (calf, illness) won't play in Wednesday's contest against the Brooklyn Nets. He will miss a third consecutive game. Initially, White was expected to return to the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Orlando Magic, but he had to skip the game due to illness. With White on the shelf, Ayo Dosunmu is expected to receive another start. He has been a solid fantasy contributor in the first unit this season, averaging 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. The Nets are ranked 29th in defensive efficiency, making Wednesday's game a very favorable fantasy matchup for Dosunmu and the Bulls.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (back) is on the injury report with a questionable tag ahead of Wednesday's meeting with the Detroit Pistons. Porter Jr. exited Monday's loss to the Washington Wizards with lower back spasms and may now land back on the shelf after just returning from injury. Before he left the action on Monday, Porter Jr. was having a superb game, posting 30 points with 12-for-15 shooting. Players like Ryan Rollins, A.J. Green, and Gary Trent Jr. will soak up the available minutes if Porter Jr. doesn't get cleared for Wednesday's action.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe) isn't on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's contest against the Portland Trail Blazers. Garland continues to manage a toe injury and didn't play in Monday's win over the Indiana Pacers. In 2025-26, Garland has been limited to seven outings, averaging 14.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. He has logged 30-plus minutes in back-to-back games, so it seems Garland is close to being ready to handle his normal workload. On Wednesday, Dean Wade will likely move to the bench to accommodate Garland's return. It's a good matchup for the two-time All-Star, as Portland allows the second-most fantasy points in the league to point guards.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (groin) has been ruled out for a 10th consecutive game. He is currently limited to non-contact work at practice and remains without a timetable for his return. Tristan da Silva looks set for another start on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs. However, the 24-year-old has seen his production fall off the cliff lately and couldn't even score in Monday's win over the Chicago Bulls. With Banchero sidelined, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane continue to lead the Magic offense. The two scored basically half of the team's points (62) in Monday's 125-120 victory.
Boston's F Jaylen Brown scored 42 points on 16-of-24 shooting in a 123-117 win over the Knicks on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Timberwolves' G Anthony Edwards scored 44 points on 16-of-30 shooting in a 149-142 win over New Orleans on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Spurs' F Harrison Barnes scored 31 points on 10-of-20 shooting in a 126-119 win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Barnes is owned in only 10.5% leagues.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (wrist) is tagged as probable ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks. Ball has been battling with wrist soreness, but is expected to play through the pain. It didn't seem to affect his performance, as he scored 12 points with 14 assists during Monday's game. The absence of Brandon Miller (shoulder) should mean increased ball-handling responsibilities for Ball. It doesn't seem like fantasy managers should be worried about the wrist issue right now.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (knee, back) is officially available to suit up ahead of Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards. George continues to carry a questionable tag, but has been able to suit up in each of the last three games. The veteran forward has been dealing with a couple of injuries, but continues to play through them. He recorded a season-high five steals to go along with 16 points and seven rebounds during Sunday's game. George should see nearly 30 minutes of action with Quentin Grimes (calf) remaining on the sideline. Fantasy managers should double-check that George is in their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game versus the Washington Wizards. He started the day off with a probable tag, but has now been downgraded to out. Grimes played 47 minutes during the double-overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks. It appears Grimes picked up the injury during that game, but should be considered day-to-day for now. Justin Edwards and Jared McCain should split up the playing time with Grimes unavailable. McCain is the more appealing streaming option between the two due to his scoring ability. McCain has scored 15 points or more in three of his last five games.
Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (toe) has been upgraded to available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. George was questionable coming into this game due to a left big toe contusion. He played 31 minutes during Monday's game, so it was unclear if the Wizards would be cautious during the second leg of the back-to-back set. George is looking for better results after going 3-for-11 from the floor during Monday's game. He figures to play around 30 minutes again with Khris Middleton (rest) unavailable on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should make sure to get George in their lineups ahead of Tuesday's tip-off.
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game versus the New York Knicks. Miller is set to miss his second straight game after being scratched from Monday's contest due to a shoulder issue. It's worth noting that Miller missed time earlier in the season due to a left shoulder injury. It's possible that Miller re-aggravated the issue during Saturday's game. Regardless, Miller will miss his second straight game, but is tagged as day-to-day ahead of Friday's matchup versus the Toronto Raptors. His absence on Wednesday should mean more run for Sion James and Collin Sexton. Between the two, Sexton is the better fantasy option with six-straight games with 15 points or more.
