Doc Rivers discusses Chris Paul's Clippers legacy

LOS ANGELES - If the end of the Chris Paul era with the Clippers came with the trade to the Rockets last June, Monday offered the most vivid reminder with his first game against his former team. It also brought a chance to consider and evaluate his six years with the Clippers, that were the best in franchise history, but also ultimately disappointing.

"You're always judged by wins. We won a lot of games, but we didn't get it done," said Clippers coach Doc Rivers, sharing the sentiment Paul expressed on Sunday. "We're all part of that legacy. I don't think we should separate Chris by himself. I'm part of that legacy. D.J. (DeAndre Jordan), Blake (Griffin) and all the guys that were here are part of that legacy. We were an almost team. It will haunt me forever. We were close."

Rivers said he hoped Paul would be appreciated for what was accomplished, saying that there is no way to handle such a move that will satisfy all fans. Paul told the Clippers he would sign with the Rockets as a free agent if they did not trade him, effectively forcing their hand but also bringing back four players that remain on the roster.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of fans that will look at Chris and say 'you left us' and they'll be right," Rivers said. "There should always be the fans that say 'thank you for your years of service.' It's always going to mixed. It doesn't matter how you leave. But I think it should be a good ovation for him.

"I don't know if it could have been better or worse. When a guy leaves, they leave. When a player of Chris' ability leaves, they're basically saying they want to leave to try to win somewhere else. The team they're leaving, you're never happy with that. Overall, I think it was handled pretty well."

Paul offered little insight about why he left the Clippers other than his previous statement that "it was time."

"It doesn't matter now," Paul said. "All that's in the past. I'm so glad to be in the space now where I am where I am and I'm excited."