Chris Paul was adamant that he isn’t retiring.
His window though for a championship is closing.
The Suns have an excellent team, but the West assuming good health will be stacked once again and that will make a return trip to the NBA Finals tough. There is also the financial aspect of things. If he opts into his contract he will be paid $44 million next season. If he opts out, he will still get paid but that average is going to come down.
Marc Spears of the Undefeated gives his opinion on the options that will be available for CP3 next season.
According to sources, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been on the hunt for veteran point guard, and Paul is on the list.
For Paul to join forces with James for the first time in their careers, it would likely take a sign-and-trade with the Suns. The most the over-the-cap Lakers can offer Paul without a sign-and-trade is a $9.5 million taxpayer midlevel exception.
Paul has earned $259 million in his career. If Paul does opt out, it’s most likely he’ll re-sign with the Suns. But also keep an eye on Paul’s former agent Leon Rose, who is now president of the New York Knicks. Paul is also close to soon-to-be former Suns assistant coach Willie Green, who could certainly use a veteran point guard when he takes over as coach of the New Orleans Pelicans and may at least make an inquiry call, too. If Paul departs from Phoenix, he would be playing for his fifth team since 2017.
If you were CP3 what would you do?
Joining a super team might be his best route to a title, but would it be the most fulfilling?
Flip the page for Chris Paul speaking on how he has a lot of basketball left in him.