Chris Paul is set to play his 20th NBA season, and if he doesn't play for the Warriors, he could find a new home with another team looking for veteran leadership.
NBC Sports contributor Marc Stein said the San Antonio Spurs “could emerge” as a possible suitor for Paul if the Warriors waive him by June 28, the deadline to guarantee Paul's contract. ” he wrote on his Substack page (h/t Bleacher Report).
“If Paul and the Warriors part ways, the team to watch is San Antonio,” Stein said. “Amid early personnel rumors, Spurs decide to pursue veteran know-how on a short-term deal basis and provide expected Rookie of the Year Victor Wembaneyama with more experienced support this year.'' , could emerge as a potential suitor for Paul.''2.
Paul's $30 million annual salary for the 2024-25 NBA season is not guaranteed, and the Warriors have until June 28 to decide whether to keep the veteran point guard or move him to create salary cap space. There is a need to.
Paul's first, and likely only, season with the Warriors ended with them missing the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2010.
Acquired from the Washington Wizards in the trade that sent Jordan Poole to D.C., Paul averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists in 58 games, including 40 off the bench. He missed about six weeks in the middle of the season due to a broken bone in his left hand.
During Wednesday's postseason media session after the Warriors lost to the Kings in the NBA Play-In Tournament the night before, Paul sounded like someone who knows he might not be able to return next season.
“It was a unique experience,” Paul said. “I'm happy to have the opportunity to play with some of the players I've played with, meet new people and play for an organization I never imagined I would play for. But… I am grateful for the experience.”
The next day, general manager Mike Dunleavy left the door open to Paul potentially returning to the Warriors next season, assuming the salary was commensurate with what the team was trying to do.
“Obviously, he probably wishes he had a bigger role and could have helped the team a little bit more, but his work has allowed us to move forward and he can still do it and I think he's winning. And what that means for things like that, I think we're certainly interested in bringing him back,'' Dunleavy told reporters.
“But like a puzzle, we need to look and understand and see, and there are definitely viable paths to doing that, but as to specifically what can and cannot be done. It hasn’t really progressed yet.”
Perhaps the only way the Warriors can bring Paul back is if they can negotiate a lower salary.
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