Michael Nelson / EPA
Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan will not be squaring off in an offseason battle royale.
Yessiree, these are crazy times.
On May 18, just after the Los Angeles Clippers were eliminated by the Houston Rockets, a loss that included relinquishing a 3-1 series lead, Fox Sports’ Bill Reiter brought word that the point guard and center were beefing:
Sources: DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul have had falling out throughout season, a fact that could push Jordan to another team in free agency.
— Bill Reiter (@sportsreiter) May 18, 2015
The timing was less than ideal. Jordan is set to enter free agency and will probably be looking around, and the Clippers aren’t in position to let one of their three best players walk. The money they would “save” by not re-signing Jordan couldn’t be funneled into another player. They’re financially inflexible, even without Jordan, through at least 2015-16.
Hence the concern. If Paul and DJ weren’t getting along, their fractured relationship could spell doom for the Clippers.
It’ won’t, of course.
Because their relationship is fine.
As Doc Rivers said, per ESPN Los Angeles’ Arash Markazi:
I can put this to rest: They get along great. Clearly, like everybody, they don’t get along all the time, and they don’t get along with me all the time, either, by the way. I don’t see that as an issue. I think all three, and I’m including Blake in this as well, understand how important the other guy is to them. Meaning, they all three need each other to win, and I think all three get that and all three know that and all three want to do it together. To me, that’s the most important thing.
BOOM. Doc has all the hot takes.
Rumors like the one above come with the territory. Anonymous sources always start chirping when it comes to superstars, especially when one of those superstars is speeding toward free agency.
Exhibts A-Z: Kevin Love.
It doesn’t help that, you know, the Clippers had just wrapped up an historic letdown at the time. They should have been in the Western Conference Finals. They should have been the Golden State Warriors’ ceremonial steppingstone.
To forfeit a 3-1 series edge like that, to blow an opportunity like this, is huge. And shit is going to happen in the moment, when the heat of battle is still simmering. It’s unlikely anyone on the Clippers was a happy camper at the time. There is no way their locker room was a good place to be.
So maybe Paul and Jordan did have a lover’s spat. Perhaps said source didn’t see them high-five each other and bro hug it out before talking to the media. Who knows.
Well, actually, Doc does.
He says they’re fine. So they’re fine.
Next rumor please.
