Chris Paul opts out of contract: Where will he sign in free agency?

In what’s shaping up to be the most important summer in Los Angeles Clippers franchise history, star point guard Chris Paul has opted out of his contract.

Despite having three all-stars in their starting lineup, the Los Angeles Clippers have failed to make it out of the first round two years in a row. They could at least chalk it up to injuries the first time around while knowing that everyone had a year left on their deal to come back. But after bowing out to the Utah Jazz, you can’t blame any of them for wanting to seek greener pastures.

Minutes after Blake Griffin informed the team of his decision to opt out, Chris Paul has done the same. Both of these moves come days after the team tried to shop DeAndre Jordan during the draft. Like Griffin, Paul had a year left on his deal but exercised his player option by opting out.

LA Times’ Brad Turner first reported it on Twitter:

There should be no shortage of potential suitors for Paul. Ever since joining the Clippers in 2011, he has been playing at a very high level. Some would even go so far as to call him the best point guard in the league. However, like his teammate, he has had his fair share of injuries and missed 21 games with a torn left thumb ligament this year.

The Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs have already been linked with Paul this offseason. But if the Clippers lose any one or two of Griffin, Paul, or Jordan, they’re committing themselves to a franchise rebuild. Perhaps they knew Paul would do this during the draft when they traded back into the second round and selected Jawun Evans. He’s obviously not going to replicate Paul’s production, but he gives them a steady option at the point guard position, and despite what Doc thinks, he’s a much better option than Austin Rivers.

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Whatever happens in L.A. this year, this is likely to be the summer to end all summers for the Clippers.