Chris Paul is widely considered the greatest point guard of his generation. He is unquestionably a future Hall of Famer. In his prime, Paul was one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history, as well as one of the best defensive guards in the world. Even at the age of 38, Paul is an elite ballhandler.
This season, Paul has served as a bench player for the Golden State Warriors. He was moved to the Bay Area in exchange for Jordan Poole, who went to the Washington Wizards. Unfortunately, Paul’s presence on the roster did not produce the intended results. On Tuesday, the Sacramento Kings knocked Golden State out of postseason contention.
aul hinted to the media during his postgame news conference that he would be returning next season.
“I think for me, I showed the ability to adapt and change,” Paul said. “But first and foremost, I’m a competitor. I want to hoop and I just love to play. I love to play; I love to contribute. I think it’s a big summer… I got to get back to work.”
The veteran guard will undoubtedly find a home in the league. However, it’s not clear whether that home will continue to be with the Warriors. Paul’s $30 million salary is fully non-guaranteed, so his future with the cap-strapped Warriors is in question. As such, Paul would need to agree terms on a more team-friendly deal if he wished to remain with the Warriors.
Wherever Paul ends up, he will most likely be an important part of the team’s rotation. He has demonstrated the ability to be a valuable contributor off the bench. Given his age and waning athleticism, he would be better suited to a second-unit role. Paul made 58 appearances for the Warriors this season. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, shooting 44.1% from the field and 37.1% from three.
Throughout his career, Paul has yet to win a championship. His next assignment will most likely be with a competitive team, where he hopes to add a ring to his resume before retiring from the league and concluding his remarkable career.
