Report: James Harden was not in favor of Chris Paul joining Clippers

James Harden was not exactly campaigning for a Chris Paul reunion.

According to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, Harden did not want the Clippers to sign Paul, a stance rooted in their rocky history together in Houston.

The two butted heads repeatedly, and Harden eventually pushed the Rockets to trade Paul to Oklahoma City in 2019.

Paul’s brief stint in Los Angeles this season did not help his case. He appeared in 16 games and struggled across the board, averaging 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting poorly from every level.

To move on, the Clippers will have to waive him and eat his $3.6 million salary, reach a buyout or wait until December 15 when he becomes trade-eligible.

Paul’s résumé speaks for itself. Twelve All-Star nods. Eleven All-NBA selections. Nine All-Defensive teams. A top 75 all-time lock and a future Hall of Famer.

But the version the Clippers got was not the one they remembered. Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported that the locker room had grown tired of Paul’s constant criticism despite his limited role. Turner wrote that “everyone” was fed up.

Harden addressed the move after the Clippers’ win over Atlanta.

“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys,” he said, via ESPN. “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. That is out of my hands. I got to focus on what I can control. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision.”

Paul wants to keep playing. The Clippers simply decided it will not be for them.