The Knicks’ once-targeted backup playmaker is back on the market following a stunning move.
The team previously “broached” the idea of pursuing veteran point guard Chris Paul, noti.group’s Stefan Bondy reported last week, news that has resurfaced following his shocking release from the Los Angeles Clippers early Wednesday.
The Clippers legend signed a one-year deal to return to the franchise ahead of the 2025-26 season, which he later confirmed would be the final chapter of his illustrious 21-year career.
The 12-time All-Star, 40, revealed on Instagram that he was getting “sent home” around 3 a.m. ET in the middle of the team’s road trip amid a disastrous 5–16 season for LA.
The Knicks are looking at backup point guards as Landry Shamet hit the sidelines with a sprained shoulder — an injury that will sideline him for at least four weeks.
Bondy revealed that the Knicks had internally discussed bringing Paul to New York even before Shamet’s injury, citing his longtime relationship with former agent and current Knicks president Leon Rose.
“They are still looking for a backup point guard,” Bondy said after Shamet’s injury, “and one name that did come up internally — I don’t think it’s going to happen, but it was just broached — was Chris Paul.”
While Bondy doubted the possibility of the veteran guard joining the Knicks at the time, Paul’s stunning release — paired with the severity of Shamet’s injury — could leave the door open for the Knicks to revisit the idea.
The Knicks currently sit at 13–7 and fourth in the Eastern Conference, but the loss of Shamet — one of the top three-point shooters in the league — deprives them of a secondary playmaker and overall backcourt depth.
New York’s title aspirations could be bolstered by Paul, who’s still seeking an elusive championship ring on his way out.
Outlined by Keith Smith, a contributor to Spotrac and the NBA Front Office Show, it’s “very unlikely” that the Clippers flat-out waive Paul.
Not only is Paul’s $3.6 million salary fully guaranteed, but LA is closely tied to their first-apron hard cap and wouldn’t have enough money to fill their 14th roster spot, which Paul currently occupies.
The Clippers would only be able to drop down to 13 players for up to two weeks, leading Smith to believe that they “probably won’t waive Chris Paul until they’ve exhausted trade possibilities.”
Paul, who’s averaging just 2.9 points and 3.3 assists on 32.1 percent shooting in 14.3 minutes off the bench this season, becomes trade eligible on Dec. 15.
Time will tell if the all-time great gets to finish his retirement tour — and whether he’ll get to do so at Madison Square Garden.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
