Los Angeles Clippers part ways with veteran guard Chris Paul

by · UPI

Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Clippers will part ways with Chris Paul, the veteran guard and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank announced.

"Just found out I'm being sent home," Paul posted Tuesday night on Instagram.

Paul scored eight points in 15 minutes in a 140-123 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday in Miami. The Clippers will face the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Paul, 40, spent seven of his 21 years in the NBA with the Clippers. He is the franchise's all-time leader in assists. He ranks No. 2 and No. 6, respectively, in steals and points.

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The 12-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection averaged a career-low 2.9 points. 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game through 16 appearances this season off the Clippers bench.

The Clippers (5-16), who are on a five-game losing streak, are among the worst teams in the NBA.

"We are parting ways with Chris and he will no longer be with the team," Frank said in a statement. "We will work with him on the next step of his career. Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career.

"I want to make one thing very clear: No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we've struggled. We're grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise."

Paul, who announced in November that this will be his final season, signed a 1-year, $3.6 million deal the Clippers in July. The veteran point guard ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists and 2,728 steals.

The Clippers and Hawks will tip off at 7:30 p.m. EST Wednesday in Atlanta.

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