Chris Paul's Reaction to Clippers Dismissal Revealed, Did Legend Try to Stay with LAC?

Chris Paul was reportedly "stunned" when the Los Angeles Clippers decided to part ways and send him home, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, and he even tried to "plead his case" to stay to no avail.

Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank delivered the news to Paul on Tuesday evening, Dec. 2 from the executive's hotel room in Atlanta, where Los Angeles would play the Hawks the following evening.

After hearing the news, Paul tried to stay, to the point where "he brought teammate Brook Lopez into the room as something of a character witness," per Shelburne.

The decision had already been made, though.

Shelburne took a deep dive into the parting of ways. In essence, a frosty and sometimes divisive relationship between Paul and head coach Ty Lue (plus assistant head coach Jeff Van Gundy) was cited as a major reason. In fact, Shelburne said that Paul's "final substantive conversation" with Lue was on Nov. 7, or nearly four weeks before the team cut ties.

In addition, Paul also didn't always see eye-to-eye with players when he offered suggestions. He was reportedly assertive and open about things he felt the team needed to do on and off the court to improve, and those opinions were not always well-received, to the point there were "complaints from both players and coaches that he was abrasive," per Shelburne.

However, Paul had his backers as well, including Lopez and Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, per Shelburne.

"Lopez and Leonard were Paul's most ardent supporters on the team, sources said. Paul reminded Frank that he'd asked him to facilitate another meeting with Lue and that hadn't happened. Frank acknowledged that, but held firm. The decision had been made."

Still, despite the internal turmoil, Paul clearly wanted to stay aboard with the Clippers, a team that has meant so much to him.

He starred in L.A. for six seasons from 2011-12 to 2016-17, making the All-NBA First Team three times and the All-NBA Second Team on two occasions. One can argue the surefire Hall of Famer's best days were with the Clippers.

However, this go-around in L.A. didn't go well for the 40-year-old, who is now working out in the Clippers' old practice facility (now owned by the NBPA) to stay in shape in hopes the team trades him or buys out his contract, per Shelburne.