{"id":152629,"date":"2025-07-29T04:50:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T08:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=152629"},"modified":"2025-07-29T04:50:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T08:50:23","slug":"suns-reason-passing-chris-paul-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/29\/suns-reason-passing-chris-paul-free-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Suns Reason For Passing On Chris Paul Revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Phoenix Suns are back to being point guard-less, with either Jalen Green<\/a> or Devin Booker<\/a> likely to play table-setter next season. However, they probably could\u2019ve had at least one bonafide floor general, even as recently as last week. 12-time All-Star, Chris Paul<\/a>, is now back with the Los Angeles Clippers and preparing for a retirement tour<\/a>. However, prior to him putting his name on the dotted line, he was also considering a return to the Suns.<\/p>\n

In fact, \u201cSuns star Devin Booker was a fan of the idea, too<\/a>, given how well he and Paul played together during the Suns\u2019 run to the NBA Finals in 2021 and with Phoenix seemingly in need of a proven playmaker after Tyus Jones\u2019 free agent departure to Orlando,\u201d per The Stein Line\u2019s Marc Stein.<\/p>\n

Suns Reason For Passing On Chris Paul Revealed<\/h2>\n

Despite Booker\u2019s vote of confidence, the Suns remained concerned about how Paul\u2019s leadership style would mesh with first-year head coach Jordan Ott, according to Stein. If so, this is a strange line of thinking. Several organizations would prefer having a seasoned and savvy veteran leader to help ease a rookie head coach\u2019s transition to the front of the bench.<\/p>\n

Paul is certainly headstrong. As one of the smartest and most successful players in NBA history, who can blame him?<\/p>\n

Yet, if he wasn\u2019t coachable, it\u2019s hard to believe that legendary San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich would\u2019ve wanted him. Keep in mind that Paul wasn\u2019t just signed because he could throw lobs to Victor Wembanyama<\/a>. The Spurs also believed that Paul could be a mentor to the 2023 No. 1 pick.<\/p>\n

\n

San Antonio Spurs Head Coach: Mitch Johnson.<\/p>\n

On his first season as the coach for the Spurs and coaching Hall of Famer and former Clipper players Chris Paul @CP3<\/a> .<\/p>\n

\u201cPull up a seat, pull up a chair, pull up Peace.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/Q05jObGsOx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Pull Up! Basketball Podcast (@ThePullUpShows) April 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n