Chris Paul may not be a member of the Washington Wizards for long, with the team reportedly poised to deal him and the Golden State Warriors a possible landing spot.
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“The Wizards are gonna try to see if they can flip [Chris Paul] to a 3rd team… The Clippers, The warriors – Those are 2 teams that did discuss potential deals with the Suns prior to this trade going down” – @ShamsCharania#RunItBack pic.twitter.com/vrhlXI6s1O
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) June 19, 2023
Paul was part of a trade package the Phoenix Suns agreed to with the Wizards on Sunday in exchange for Bradley Beal. The deal by the Wizards is likely an early sign that the team intends to begin a painful rebuilding process.
At age 38 and on the downside of his legendary career, Paul is a player whose costly remaining contract could end up hindering the Wizards’ rebuilding efforts. He’s set to make at least $30 million in each of the next two seasons, though his 2024-25 salary isn’t guaranteed.
Unlike the Wizards, the Warriors are strong playoff contenders that are just one year removed from the franchise’s fourth NBA title since 2015. Adding Paul to the roster would give the team solid depth and veteran experience.
The Warriors already have a pair of future Hall of Famers in their starting backcourt in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. However, both have had injury issues in recent years, with the potential addition of Paul offering the Warriors a chance to insert another future Hall of Famer if such concerns resurface.
Paul would most likely to be eager to join the Warriors, given the team’s championship pedigree and overall talent.
Despite being in the NBA for 18 seasons, leading the league in multiple categories and earning a bevy of awards, Paul has yet to be part of a championship team. That hole in his resume has no doubt been a source of frustration for the veteran.
In 2021, Paul and the Suns ended up just two wins away from winning an NBA title. That agonizingly close effort is something that likely wouldn’t happen with the Wizards over the remainder of his career.
There’s no apparent time frame for any potential deal involving Paul, with the Warriors unlikely to be the only trade option for the Wizards.
If Paul hits the open market, the Los Angeles Lakers may make a push to acquire him, as he is a close friend of LeBron James and believed to hold the dream of playing with the legendary superstar.
