The Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns were both eliminated from the postseason earlier than they would have liked. With front office shifts in both organizations, changes quickly became imminent on both rosters. Earlier this week, Phoenix decided to waive point guard Chris Paul after the 38-year-old missed the final four games of the Conference Semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets with a groin injury. Immediately following his release, Paul was linked to the Warriors, raising eyebrows in the NBA community.
The Golden State Warriors are a potential destination for Chris Paul, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/SG9k9zT7qg
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 10, 2023
Make it Make Sense for the Warriors
The Warriors are projected to be nearly $50 million over the $162 million luxury tax threshold for next season. With Jordan Poole’s contract extension kicking in next year, Draymond Green having a player option this summer, and Klay Thompson entering the last year of his deal, the Warriors are already in for huge salary cap trouble. On top of that, the new CBA prevents teams over the luxury tax from using the taxpayer mid-level exception. This means that Donte DiVincenzo would not be on the roster had the rule been in place a year ago. So how on Earth would they be able to land Paul financially?
A hypothetical signing of Paul would not be as expensive as you may think. Phoenix waived Paul before the June 28 deadline, meaning only about $15 million of his $30 million deal is guaranteed. With Paul already making that money for next year, it looks as if he’ll be willing to sign for less in order to compete for his first championship. Paul is eligible for the veteran minimum of $2.72 million, but it is likely that he will want more and be in the market for about $10 million. This means they could get him for the minimum with very few roster moves, but Paul will likely want more.
“All in” or Building for the Future?
Golden State will have to accept that they are all in on making the most of Stephen Curry’s prime and what they have left with their big three if Paul is a real option for them. This means the young guys on the roster, like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Poole, will be the ones taking the hit.
Poole is the obvious target.
On track to make almost $28 million next year, his contract was easily justifiable after winning the title last year, but it’s hard to explain after his postseason performance this year. His dustup with Green prior to the season affected the team’s chemistry, and he became almost unplayable against the Lakers. Poole, along with Kuminga and even DiVincenzo, voiced their displeasure with their roles as the playoffs went on and further hurt the locker room’s attitude.
NBA Rumors: Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga are Trade Candidates
Curry is the obvious star of the team and starting point guard, so it would take some pride-swallowing for Paul to join the roster, especially given his history as a rival. If Paul can do that, he could provide a more controlled second unit when Curry comes out of the game. The Warriors’ offensive rating dropped by 18.5 when Curry sat in the postseason. Chris Paul coming off the bench could fix that issue for Golden State.
Owner Joe Lacob will first have to solidify a replacement for former General Manager Bob Meyers. Lacob said that Mike Dunleavy and Kirk Lacob will be trusted with more prominent roles in the front office. They’ll have a big task on their hands from the jump if the Paul-Warriors rumors are true.
Make it Make Sense for Chris Paul
An opportunity to win a championship.
Paul spoke on the pressures of winning a title the day before he was waived. He even said kids at his daughter’s school say things to her about it.
"[My daughter] at the age now where at school kids talk crazy to her. She had a little boy at school that said some reckless stuff to her was like, 'Your daddy ain't never gon' win no championship.'"
Chris Paul on not winning an NBA title
(via @thepivot)pic.twitter.com/zXp8HqOemN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 7, 2023
Every day, he feels the tension of not having a ring despite having played 18 years in the NBA. Signing with the Warriors and accepting a new role is one of the ways he could do that. At his age, Paul may not be stable enough to lead a team to a title, but a reduced part could be beneficial. Paul played in just 59 games in the regular season, along with his sidelining in the postseason. Fewer minutes night in and night out would reduce the mileage on his body and allow him to shine when it matters most. It could even extend his career.
Paul isn’t necessarily swirling the drain yet, but his time may soon come to a close. The window to win a championship is closing. An important decision looms over his future, and he has to choose where he thinks the best opportunity is. Paul has reportedly dreamed of playing for the Lakers, but they would need big minutes from him all year, and injuries are already a concern there.
An Unlikely Marriage
While Paul and the Warriors seem to be a far-fetched idea, it’s more executable than it appears on the surface. With salary cap issues, the new CBA, and the Curry-Paul rivalry in the way, it’s reasonable to think this won’t happen. But we’ve seen Lacob and the Warriors front office do this before. Any time they seem to be counted out, they find some way to bolster the roster. Don’t be surprised if they do it again. An answer won’t even come until free agency opens, but both sides are committed to winning, and it’s certainly possible. We’ll hold our breath to see what the Point God does this summer.
