James Harden, Kawhi Leonard shocked by Chris Paul's Clippers exit - ESPN

ATLANTA — LA Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden were both «shocked» when they found out Wednesday morning that Chris Paul would no longer be their teammate.

The Clippers made the stunning overnight decision to part ways with Paul after a three-hour late-night conversation between Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and Paul at the team hotel in Atlanta.

Harden and Leonard couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the news on their phones.

«I'm just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,» Harden said Wednesday night after the Clippers beat the Hawks 115-92 to snap a five-game losing streak. «Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it's a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands. I got to focus on what I got to focus on and what I can control. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision for the organization.»

Leonard said he almost had to re-read what he was seeing.

«It was shocking to me,» Leonard said. «I guess they had a conversation and front office made a decision.»

Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Paul was not on speaking terms with Clippers coach Ty Lue for several weeks before the veteran point guard's abrupt ouster from the team.

Paul and his leadership style clashed with Lue and the Clippers, according to sources, who told Charania that the 12-time All-Star was vocal in holding management, coaches and players accountable. The Clippers felt that Paul's style had become disruptive, sources told Charania.

Frank said Wednesday that the organization's decision to part with Paul did not stem from one isolated incident, and that the sides had more than one conversation before Paul was finally informed he would no longer be a part of