The Milwaukee Bucks have received an unwanted update about the availability of a free agent future Hall of Fame superstar.
CAA agents Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan and Jessica Holtz inform ESPN’s Shams Charania that point guard Chris Paul has opted to rejoin his family in Los Angeles and return to the L.A. Clippers.
Twelve-time All-Star Chris Paul has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, CAA’s Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan and Jessica Holtz told ESPN. Paul had multiple suitors, but chose the contending Clippers and their shared history in L.A. for his likely final, 21st NBA season. pic.twitter.com/qC640MFFeI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 21, 2025
Charania reports that several teams were interested in signing the former 12-time All-Star, who at 40 is one of the league’s oldest active players, but that ultimately Paul opted to return to the club where he arguably enjoyed his best years, from 2011-17.
Since leaving the Clippers, Paul has suited up for contending clubs with the Houston Rockets and Phoenix, before transitioning into his post-All-Star journeyman phase on the Golden State Warriors and, more recently, the San Antonio Spurs. But Paul’s wife and children have continued to call Los Angeles home.
Per longtime NBA insider Chris Haynes, it is expected that Paul’s 21st pro season in 2025-26 will be his last. He’ll earn a $3.6 million veteran’s minimum salary, a significant pay cut from his $11 million deal with San Antonio.
While playing all 82 regular season games with the Spurs in 2024-25, the former nine-time All-Defensive Teamer averaged 8.8 points on .427/.377/.924 shooting splits, 7.4 assists and 3.6 rebounds a night.
The 2025-26 season will be Chris Paul’s 21st and likely final year in the league as his dream scenario is in place to finish his career at home with the Los Angeles Clippers. https://t.co/2vEJ66snwR
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 21, 2025
Earlier in free agency, Haynes had previously revealed on NBA TV that the Bucks were circling Paul.
During the tail end of his All-Star prime (before Milwaukee’s ill-fated trade for another aging All-NBA point guard, Damian Lillard), Paul had also been seen as a possibly perfect pick-and-roll partner for nine-time All-NBA superstar Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Even in his dotage, Paul remains a solid passer and shooter.
Chris Haynes with updates:
CP3: “Bucks have registered interest in him…I’m told he wants to stay closer to home. Clippers and Suns are still in play”
Russ: “I thought he would end up in Sacramento. But the Kings were unable to unload Malik Monk” https://t.co/61G5B0J2So pic.twitter.com/WYocEspiR2
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 2, 2025
“The Milwaukee Bucks have registered interest in him,” Haynes said early this month. “I’m told he wants to stay closer to home. The Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns — they are still in play.”
When Milwaukee nabbed 25-year-old free agent guard Cole Anthony after he agreed to a buyout with the Orlando Magic, it became clear that bringing in Paul to shore up its post-Lillard backcourt depth was suddenly less essential.
The Clippers’ mutual interest in a reunion with Paul isn’t a total surprise. Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints captured the moment that L.A. president Lawrence Frank revealed in a Zoom presser with reporters that the team had been angling for a Paul signing this summer.
Clippers President Lawrence Frank jumped at @LawMurrayTheNU mistakenly asking if the Clippers plan to sign Bradley Beal (he meant to say Chris Paul) 😂
LF then adds: “What I’d say about Chris is he’s a great player, he’s a great Clipper. He obviously possesses some of the… pic.twitter.com/tyVwlReh0H
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) July 19, 2025
“What I’d say about Chris is he’s a great player, he’s a great Clipper. He obviously possesses some of the qualities we just referenced,” Frank indicated. “Of course, we’re strongly strongly considering him.”
Paul is just the latest old guy to ink a deal with L.A. Just this summer, the Clippers have also brought in 32-year-old ex-All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal and 37-year-old former All-Star center Brook Lopez, while also re-signing 37-year-old forward Nicolas Batum.
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