The Clippers are reminding us how not to treat franchise greats

The Los Angeles Lakers shocked the world in February 2025 by trading championship-winning franchise icon Anthony Davis, keeping it quiet to almost everyone involved — including Davis — essentially blindsiding one of the most important figures of the franchise’s future.

Davis, rightfully so, felt betrayed by Los Angeles for a moment. (“They traded me,” Davis said in the team’s group chat the night he was swapped for Luka Dončić).

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Now, sit back and consider this hypothetical:

Imagine if the season after Davis was traded, Deandre Ayton was given permission to wear No. 3.

Utter blasphemy.

The Los Angeles Clippers just did this, perhaps to an even grander scale, to the most important player in the history of their franchise by allowing Bradley Beal to use Chris Paul’s No. 3 this season, a jersey number the NBA universe almost unanimously assumed would be untouched and hanging in the rafters at Intuit Dome.

The Clippers’ latest misstep is not only another wrinkle in a tumultuous offseason, but it’s what seems to be a nail in the coffin of what’s been a turbulent swansong for the franchise’s icon.

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Paul’s accomplishments with the Clippers may not pale in comparison to Davis’s with the Lakers, considering Davis got a title during his tenure. But relative to the history of both franchises, Paul was infinitely more of an impactful figure to his than Davis, plain and simple.

And the Clippers sent him on his way as if he never existed.

Lakers (yet again) show Clippers how it’s done

On the same day, and in a complete coincidence, the Lakers announced their 2026-27 season promotional schedule, which included various bobblehead nights and a 2020 championship replica ring giveaway.

Los Angeles scheduled the latter giveaway for when it hosts Davis and the Washington Wizards on Sunday, Jan. 24, honoring the six-year-old Finals win with one of its most important figures.

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AD, like nearly every Lakers fan, probably expected to retire in the purple and gold. Despite an at-times bitter departure that is validated by the NBA simply being a business, the Lakers are making it a point to ensure that…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/clippers-reminding-us-not-treat-171606521.html

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Publish date : 2026-09-12 17:16:00

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