Now that the NBA world has had a little time to digest, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes bombshell that the Phoenix Suns plan to waive Chris Paul, thus making him one of the top free agents on the market. Let’s dive into potential landing spots for the future Hall of Famer.
BREAKING: Phoenix Suns have notified star Chris Paul that he will be waived, making the future Hall of Famer one of the top free agents this offseason, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 7, 2023
Projecting The 15 Best Landing Spots For Chris Paul
Before looking at the teams interested in Paul, let’s clarify that he is still a member of the Suns. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said that may end up being the case as well as Phoenix “would like to find a way to keep him financially.”
Reporting for NBA Countdown on the Suns beginning conversations with Chris Paul on his future with franchise pic.twitter.com/2DoOaRX3fV
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2023
Like Wojnarowski, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic and Shams Charania of The Athletic also reported that the Suns are still weighing their options and prioritizing keeping Paul. Charania reported that trading the 38-year-old, waiving and stretching his contract, waiving Paul outright, and possibly re-signing him are possible options.
Paul has two years on his contract. The Suns can theoretically get out of the contract because only $15.8 million of the remaining $60.8 million is guaranteed. Phoenix has until June 28 to make an official decision.
How Does Phoenix Keep Chris Paul
Phoenix has several ways of keeping Paul. However, one option that does not appear to be on the table is fully guaranteeing his contract.
The major issue surrounding Paul and the Suns is that Phoenix is projected to go over the prohibitive second tax apron. The Suns have seven players under contract, including Paul, with salaries totaling over $160 million. If the Suns fully guaranteed Paul, they would only have around $18 million to sign seven more players.
So, Phoenix’s first option would be to reduce the payroll via other means. The Suns have been rumored to be interested in shopping Deandre Ayton. Ayton will make $32.4 million this year and has three years and over $102 million left on his deal.
According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, instead of trading Ayton and Paul, Phoenix could waive Landry Shamet. By stretching Shamet’s $10.2 million salary (guaranteed) over seven years, Hollinger said that the Suns would save would cut $8.8 million from the Suns’ cap sheet.
A second option would be to try to renegotiate with Paul. Haynes tweeted that the veteran point guard plans to play several more years. So, perhaps the Suns add two more years to the deal, thus cutting the salary cap hit to roughly $15 million each of the next three years.
The third option would be to waive Paul outright. If the Suns waive and stretch him, they would be ineligible to re-sign him. Paul should be willing to sign for the veteran’s minimum (around $3 million).
However, if Phoenix can’t work things out, there will potentially be a dozen or more teams interested in trading or signing Paul. The following is a look at the top destinations for him.
Predicting Where Chris Paul Will End Up
1. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix tops the list because there is mutual interest in the relationship. The Suns control the narrative until they trade or release him. Thus, giving them the upper hand.
Paul has spent the past three years in the Valley of the Sun, where he has had success. Paul led Phoenix to the NBA finals in 2021, earning two all-star selections while compiling 76 double-doubles and three triple-doubles during his tenure with the team. The Suns are 135-50 in games that Paul has appeared in. Plus, they aim to win a championship by building around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, one of the league’s best duos. Booker and Paul are reportedly good friends.
New Suns’ coach Frank Vogel discussed having Booker, Durant, Deandre Ayton, and Paul on Wednesday.
“I love what we can accomplish, the firepower that we have with those two prolific, savage scorers (Booker and Durant) with bookends in Chris and Deandre at the guard and center position and a lot of the other pieces. I feel like we can do great things right away.”
While Paul has been prone to injuries throughout his career and has undoubtedly lost a step, he still offers a lot to a team.
2. Denver Nuggets
Denver is on the verge of winning their first NBA title. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are having a historic playoff run this year, and the last time the duo played in the playoffs together, they reached the Western Conference finals. So, if Paul wants to team up with one of the best duos in the league, there might be few better than the Murray-Jokic combo.
Paul would be an excellent fit alongside Murray. Paul’s addition would likely make the Nuggets even a bigger favorite to win the title next year as they would be a deeper club, as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would probably be sent to the bench. Plus, Bruce Brown may seek “greener pastures” and opt out of his player option, and Paul wouldn’t cause any chemistry issues.
3. Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly Interested In Chris Paul
The Lakers are third on the list due to Anthony Davis and LeBron James, although their window of winning a championship may be the smallest of all the teams on the list. The Lakers also may need a point guard if they don’t want to bring back D’Angelo Russell and Paul’s family lives in LA. However, the Lakers have many decisions, having just three players with fully guaranteed deals.
The Lakers are one of three teams that several insiders, including The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, believe are the leading candidates to land Paul if the Suns make him available. According to Sean Devaney of Heavy.com, one Eastern Conference executive texted him that Paul “always had (the) dream of being a Laker (and) playing with LBJ (James).”
4. Los Angeles Clippers Among Teams Who Could Add Chris Paul
The Clippers are fourth for a few reasons. First, due to Paul’s family connections. Secondly, as long as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are healthy, the Clips will be considered title contenders. OConnor also mentioned the Clippers as one of the top destinations for Paul.
Finally, LA also needs a point guard, as Russell Westbrook is a free agent, and Nah’shon Hyland is the only true lead guard on the roster. The Clippers will likely only be able to offer Paul the minimum.
5. Milwaukee Bucks
Just like the Clippers and Lakers, injuries have kept the Bucks from potentially fully reaching their potential. While I am not as high on Giannis Antetokounmpo as a champion as others, he and Jrue Holiday are a solid duo. Milwaukee’s chances of winning another chip likely depends on what Khris Middleton does with his player option and whether the Bucks re-sign Brook Lopez. The Bucks will probably only be able to offer Paul the minimum.
6. Boston Celtics Could Look To Add Chris Paul
The Celtics have been on the verge of winning a championship the past two years. But their priority apparently is signing Jaylen Brown to an extension. If they do that, they reportedly will look to slash payroll by trading either Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, or Marcus Smart. The Celtics could offer Paul at least the mid-level taxpayer exception ($5 million) though they also intend to keep restricted free agent Grant Williams.
7. Miami Heat
For the Heat to return to the finals next year, they must upgrade their roster. Depth at guard is the Heat’s most pressing concern, with Gabe Vincent and Max Strus being unrestricted free agents. Victor Oladipo has a player option worth $9.4 million, though he is a candidate to be stretched and waived. Like Paul, Kyle Lowry‘s best years are behind him. Lowry is a potential trade candidate in the final year of his contract and making $29.6 million.
8. Memphis Grizzlies May Be Interested In Chris Paul
Memphis is in a bit of flux, with Ja Morant’s suspension looming. The Grizzlies do arguably have the best backup point guard in Tyus Jones. But the Grizzlies still could use backcourt help. Paul could start alongside Jones or Desmond Bane while Morant is out or play alongside him once he returns. Paul and Morant combo would give the Griz one of the best backcourts in the Association.
9. Sacramento Kings
Sacramento is coming off its first playoff appearance in nearly 20 years. The Kings have a lot of offensive talent and a lot of cap space. Paul would be a perfect complement alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Adding Paul would also aid the Kings’ depth, as Kevin Huerter could come off the bench. They probably also need to re-sign Harrison Barnes to be a legitimate title contender.
10. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans haven’t had a true point guard in the past two years. While injuries are a concern, a starting lineup of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, and Paul would be exciting and entertaining.
11. New York Knicks
Not sure that Paul fits as the Knicks are currently constructed. However, New York is expected to be active in the trade market this summer, looking for another star. So, if the Knicks make some moves, then I believe he would be a solid fit alongside Jalen Brunson.
12. Chicago Bulls
I am not sure the Bulls know what they want to do. There have been rumors Chicago is intent on building around Zach LaVine while trading DeMar DeRozan and allowing Nikola Vucevic to leave as a free agent. There also have been rumors that they will re-sign Vucevic. Paul doesn’t necessarily fit unless Lonzo Ball is not fully recovered from his knee injury.
13. Philadelphia 76ers
James Harden is reportedly choosing between remaining with the Sixers or returning to Houston. If Harden does bolt, the 76ers would need a point guard. Truthfully, a Paul-Tyrese Maxey may be a better duo than Harden-Maxey.
14. Dallas Mavericks
Dallas is trying to re-sign Kyrie Irving. But if Irving bolts, the Mavericks could do worse than a Luka Doncic– Paul backcourt.
15. San Antonio Spurs
There is some smoke surrounding the Spurs. However, I don’t see it. Even if Victor Wembenyama is the real deal, the Spurs have a lot of tweaking of their roster to do. San Antonio is given the fourth-best odds -tied with Boston and Dallas –of signing Paul.
