What will Chris Paul do next?
A few hours before Game 3, the NBA world received shocking news that point guard Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns might be waived, extended, or moved this offseason. Three teams in the NBA are being discussed as prospective destinations for Paul if the Suns decide to trade him: the Clippers, the Lakers, and the Spurs.
A Lob City reunion for CP3 would make the most sense basketball-wise because Russell Westbrook's success with the Clippers demonstrated the blueprint for having a ball-dominant point guard set up Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Even yet, it would be unusual to meet him again.Paul and LeBron James would become teammates for the first time in their long careers if they moved to the Lakers, easing the responsibility of shot creation for both players. But is it a smart idea to remove the ball from LeBron's grasp? Paul would also make an already unstable scenario worse by adding another player who is prone to injury.
San Antonio is definitely my favorite option overall and would be an intriguing fit. Wembanyama's time on offense may be made simpler by Paul, who could also act as a mentor and instruct him on pick-and-roll techniques. Deandre Ayton benefited greatly from Paul's guidance, who showed him how to lay screens at specific angles and analyze defenses. Wembanyama, though, might be an even bigger sponge. Paul's invention would also benefit Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Jeremy Sochan, so with CP3 and a few more changes, the Spurs might contend for the playoffs.
However, Paul seems to favor staying on the West Coast. The Celtics, Heat, and Grizzlies, according to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, could potentially be interested in signing him.
The Bucks and Sixers (if James Harden left) would also need to think about contacting, though I haven't heard whether they're interested yet. Paul's $30.8 million contract makes salary matching difficult, so Milwaukee (and Boston, for that matter) would likely need to sign him after he is bought out rather than acquire him through a trade. Philadelphia is the most intriguing option for Paul among these East contenders, albeit only as a Harden replacement.
Depending on how the upcoming weeks go, we might see a game of musical chairs involving point guards. We will observe the Point God's landing
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