Suns To Release Chris Paul, Reunion With Rockets To Follow?
HOUSTON — The Phoenix Suns have waived All-Star point guard Chris Paul, Beacher Report was the first to report Wednesday afternoon. Paul is now a free agent and will join a market that features several prominent point guards; James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Fred VanVleet.
General manager Rafael Stone has expressed the Houston Rockets' desire to add a veteran point guard to their young corps this off-season.
Given the influence he had on the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2019-20 campaign, it makes sense why any rebuilding team would want Paul as a veteran leader. But a reunion between Paul and the Rockets is highly unlikely.
His lone season with the Thunder came due to his jettison from Houston. The Rockets traded Paul to OKC in July 2019 in favor of Russell Westbrook. Owner Tilman Fertitta was the "driving force behind the trade." And the relationship between the two respective parties did not come to a pleasurable end.
Enough time has passed for both sides to reconcile. Paul has helped revise two franchises since the Rockets traded him to the Thunder, while Houston has struggled to return to prominence.
Owner Tilman Fertitta's most significant issue was Paul's contract, which he deemed the worst in sports during his final season with the Rockets in 2019.
Paul averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 59 games for the Suns this season. He could still be productive on any team he plays for amid his 19th season. According to Beacher Report, Paul plans to play “several more years” before retiring.
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