Chris Paul Undecided on Free Agency


Despite a five-year, $108 million deal waiting for him to sign at LA Clippers headquarters, Chris Paul says he has yet to make a decision regarding his impending free agency. Coming off a disappointing first round Playoff exit, there’s reason to be a tad nervous in Clipper-ville. Per ESPN: “I don’t know how this whole thing is going to play out,’ Paul said. ‘I’m going to pray about it. We’ll see.’ Paul passed on a chance to sign a three-year, $60 million extension with the Clippers last year, but can sign a five-year, $108 million deal this summer. He said he will take his time before deciding what he will do as an unrestricted free agent. ‘All season long, it’s something that I said I would address after the season and I really didn’t think about it all during the season,” Paul said. ‘The season’s not even 24 hours from being over, so I really haven’t thought about it. The craziest thing is that this season is over. I still haven’t got that wrapped around my brain.’ The best season in Clippers franchise history ended Friday night with a 118-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6 of their first-round series. Despite leading the Clippers to their first division title and a record 56-win season, Paul was still hurting from being eliminated in the playoffs. He never has advanced past the second round and has missed the playoffs or has been eliminated in the first round six times. As he looks at where he wants to spend the next five years of his career, Paul said the opportunity to win a championship and play well into June will be a big factor. […] Blake Griffin signed a five-year, $95 million extension with the Clippers last summer and said he and his teammates would talk to Paul about re-signing in the offseason. ‘He’s a huge piece to our team moving forward,’ Griffin said. ‘He’s going to know that we want him back and we would love for him to re-sign and keep moving forward with this franchise, but ultimately this is his decision. He has to do what’s right for him and his family and we’re going to be behind him.’ […] Paul was influential in recruiting several players to sign with the Clippers in the offseason, including Matt Barnes and Grant Hill, and was a big reason why Chauncey Billups was comfortable converting to shooting guard in order to start alongside Paul.”