The Los Angeles Clippers are going to have a very different identity this year. After star point guard Chris Paul was dealt to the Houston Rockets for a plethora of players, the changing of the guard began. Paul’s departure, along with an influx of other players, means head coach Doc Rivers will be working with new lineups across the board. The Clippers are obviously in a worse place now and while Rivers wishes Paul well in Houston, there appears to be some resentment to how the exit occurred.
In an article from ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, Rivers elaborated on his thoughts about Paul being traded. As one could imagine, he would have liked him to stay. “Chris earned the right to be a free agent,” Rivers says. “But the grass isn’t always greener. We tell players that all the time. They’ll find out.” He also notes that his relationship with Paul could have been better, especially down the stretch. Rivers brings up Paul’s leadership style as something tough to get used to.
“I thought when Chris rubbed guys the worst was when he messed up,” Rivers says, “because when you mess up, you gotta take it. I didn’t really think he did.”
Paul, in response to the comments from Doc Rivers, takes things in stride. “Doc is exactly right,” Paul says, his jaw set firmly. “You can hope the grass is greener, and it may not be. But I’m going to walk around the corner and see.”
