The Golden State Warriors have already been seriously linked to a 12-time All-Star who is currently on a rival squad as the NBA summer is about to go into overdrive.
The Dubs are rapidly aging into one of the oldest teams in the league, but should Chris Paul, the 38-year-old point guard for the Phoenix Suns, become available this summer, they will probably still sign him. Friday, June 9, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, if the Suns release Paul into free agency, the Warriors will be one of four big market teams vying for his services.
“If Chris Paul is out there as a free agent this summer, look at the two teams in L.A., the Clippers and Lakers, the Knicks in New York, the Golden State Warriors — those would all be potential destinations for Chris Paul, who would then sign a deal at a much lower number than the $30 million he’s guaranteed in Phoenix if he stays there past that June 28 deadline,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s broadcast before Game 4 of the NBA Finals, per a Twitter video shared by New York Basketball.
Chris Paul Would Play Behind Steph Curry, Run Warriors’ Second Unit
Paul, an 11-time All-NBA pick, would likely lead the team’s second unit off the bench and play behind Steph Curry if Golden State made a push for him. Paul was referred to as the “2nd unit PG the Warriors need” by Dubs analyst Sam Esfandiari in a tweet from June 7.
If they keep everyone currently on the roster, Golden State will already be facing a payroll/luxury tax bill of $400–$500 million in 2023–2024. Paul would therefore need to be reasonably inexpensive for the Dubs to sign him.
Paul, though, may join with a team for the league minimum and still earn a sizable paycheck in his 19th NBA season because the Suns have guaranteed him $15.8 million for the upcoming season, even if they decide to release him. If the point guard does decide to leave Phoenix, according to Windhorst, he will be seeking for a team that is a contender and is situated close to his family’s home in Los Angeles.
As a result, Paul’s longtime friend LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers are considered to be the top candidate in free agency. That group also includes the Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul would be less interested in the New York Knicks because of their location, according to Windhorst’s report.
Leave a Reply