The Golden State Warriors surely can’t afford to keep an aging Chris Paul on a pricey contract next season, and if they let him go free this summer, they’ll face stiff competition for the 39-year-old point guard.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who presently employ Paul’s good friend LeBron James, are among those who are expected to inquire about his talents. However, NBA expert Marc Stein added the San Antonio Spurs to that list on Friday, May 24, according to “The Stein Line.”
Keeping Chris Paul on the roster under his current contract would be financial malpractice on the part of the Warriors.
“The Spurs and the Lakers keep coming up as potential suitors for the Warriors’ Chris Paul if Paul becomes a free agent this offseason,” Stein stated. “Paul’s $30 million salary for next season becomes completely guaranteed on June 28 if Golden State does not waive him or trades him to a team that keeps him. According to league insiders, the Warriors are now analyzing such possibilities.
The Warriors’ concern with keeping Paul stems from the fact that, even if the organization could find a way to pay him $30 million, doing so would be irresponsible.
Golden State was an NBA Play-In Tournament squad that missed the playoffs by two wins. The roster is built around a few of stars in their late 30s and a group of three or four young players who have all shown promise but have yet to reach their full star potential.
The Warriors may also try to keep Klay Thompson to keep the Big Three together until their separate careers end. However, whether or not the Dubs pay Thompson to return, spending $30 million on a backup point guard nearing the age of 40 is simply a horrible financial decision for a company that is already facing a huge luxury tax burden.
Chris Paul offers Spurs value that other teams don’t necessarily need.
Paul is not going to lead the Spurs to a championship in 2024-25. However, his ability to run that offense better than anyone else on the squad, as well as assist in the development of Victor Wembanyama, the reigning Rookie of the Year, may result in a higher offer from San Antonio than anyplace else in the league.
The issue contending clubs, or those hoping to contend next season, must ask themselves is whether Paul can still have a high-level impact on winning. Given that he played behind starter Steph Curry in Golden State for the majority of last season, it’s difficult to predict what he’ll bring to the court night in and night out if he returns to the starting lineup.
The point guard’s statistical numbers would undoubtedly improve if he joined a team like the Lakers and resumed his starting job. However, Paul has been prone to injuries in recent years, particularly during the playoffs, making him a riskier bet.
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