Chris Paul’s return stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to an abrupt and stunning end, the franchise parting ways with one of its greatest players in a late-night meeting that will add another layer of drama to the team’s terrible start this season.

The news was delivered in a meeting in Atlanta that ended around 2 a.m. Wednesday, Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said. Frank said he made the decision to sever ties with Paul on Sunday, then told the franchise’s all-time assist leader that he needed to see him on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Frank did not confirm speculation that Paul and Clippers coach Tyronn Lue have been clashing or not speaking to one another, insisting the decision had multiple layers. Frank also insisted that Lue is safe, despite the Clippers’ 5-16 start to this season.

“This decision had nothing to do with one incident, one meeting that did or did not happen,” Frank said in a video conference with reporters. “Some of our business, respectfully, I have to keep in house. But this didn’t come down to one incident or one meeting. It just wasn’t the right fit.”

Paul made the announcement on social media shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday, posting “Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home” and adding a peace emoji. The Clippers were in Atlanta for a road game against the Hawks on Wednesday night.

The Clippers’ flight to Atlanta from Miami on Tuesday was delayed for about 4 1/2 hours, which led to the late-night session between Frank and Paul.

“Because of the nature of the conversation it was a long, long, long, long, long, long meeting,” Frank said.

Paul 40, is playing his 21st NBA season, and he strongly hinted last month that it will be his last. The 12-time All-Star has earned four All-NBA first team selections, and he ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists. He was the first player to score at least 20,000 points while recording at least 10,000 assists.

Paul became arguably the most accomplished player in Clippers franchise history while leading the team to six winning seasons from 2011-17, including the Clippers’ first two Pacific Division titles and three playoff series victories. Paul returned to Los Angeles as a free agent last July, rejoining a franchise where he is loved by fans while having an outside chance to contend for his first championship alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

It didn’t happen.

“We did not make this move because of our underperformance,” Frank said. “He had nothing to do with that. I take full responsibility for our record. We are not scapegoating Chris Paul. ... But I do want to make it clear: We have great respect for Chris, for the career that he’s had and for his impact on the organization, what he did to help transform the franchise.”

The Clippers will likely try to trade Paul, who signed a $3.6 million deal to return to L.A. A trade cannot happen until Dec. 15 by league rules.

FORMER CENTER CAMPBELL DIES AT 57

Elden Campbell, a center who played 15 seasons in the NBA — including nine with the Los Angeles Lakers — and later won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, has died. He was 57.

Campbell’s family informed the Pistons of the death, telling the team that he died on Monday. No cause was given.

The 6-foot-11 Campbell was born in Los Angeles and excelled at Morningside High before heading to Clemson. He was a first-team ACC selection in the 1989-90 season and finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,880 points.

He played nine seasons in Los Angeles, but didn’t win a championship ring until later in his career with the Pistons — beating the Lakers in five games in 2004. Campbell played in 1,044 NBA games and amassed more than 10,000 points and 1,600 blocks while averaging 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Trail Blazers 122, Cavaliers 110: Deni Avdija scored 27 points, Caleb Love and Shaedon Sharpe added 20 apiece off the bench and visiting Portland snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Cleveland on Wednesday.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 33 points, and Evan Mobley had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Nuggets 135, Pacers 120: Jamal Murray scored a season-high 52 points and Nikola Jokic fell just short of another triple-double to help visiting Denver hold off short-handed Indiana.

Murray was 19 of 25 from the field — 10 of 11 from deep — and fell three points short of matching his career high.

Jokic had 24 points, eight rebounds and 13 assists.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 23 points.

Clippers 115, Hawks 92: James Harden had 27 points and nine assists and visiting Los Angeles ended a five-game losing streak with a win over Atlanta in its first game after deciding to move on without Chris Paul.

Kawhi Leonard had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Clippers, who won for just the sixth time this season.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 21 points.

Spurs 114, Magic 112: Luke Kornet blocked Franz Wagner’s last-second layup, De’Aaron Fox scored 31 points and visiting San Antonio beat Orlando. The Spurs have won seven of nine with Victor Wembanyama out with a strained left calf.

Wagner scored 25 for the Magic.