Could Suns PG Chris Paul Return to Clippers?
The Phoenix Suns are set to undergo some massive (and arguably much needed) change after yet again bowing out in the second round of the postseason.
That's already been established with the dismissal of head coach Monty Williams, though there will be some shakeups on the roster as Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul are major question marks as we approach the summer.
There's been some conflicting reports as to what the Suns plan to do with Paul, who recently turned 38-years-old. ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Phoenix plans to "aggressively" shop Chris Paul this summer and it's "pretty likely" he will be playing for a different team next season, while Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes reported the Suns were expecting to have him on the team next season.
Paul - despite his age - could be an integral part of a team that needs an experienced presence in the backcourt.
Perhaps a return to the Los Angeles Clippers could be in order?
"There are teams that could use Chris Paul. Lots of teams, for a short-term contract that you can get out of after one year," said ESPN NBA insider Zach Lowe.
"I mention the aggregation thing because of only one team I would look at, and this is through no reporting, I have no inside sources. The Clippers have telegraphed that they think they need a point guard to run their team. [Russell Westbrook] worked out much better than I expected. He’s a free agent [and] they’re going to have handicaps signing him that they don’t have in aggregating salaries to get up to $30 million. That’s just common sense."
So - not exactly a report that the Clippers are interested or vice versa - but the possibility nonetheless makes sense.
The Suns have until June 28 to waive Paul, which would only see his cap number at $15.8 million for the following season. If Phoenix decides to keep him past that date, all $30.8 million of his salary is guaranteed.
Next year, Phoenix can waive him before June 28 of 2024 with not a penny owed, so perhaps the Suns want to run it back one more time.
Paul himself doesn't know what the future holds.
“Unfortunately, I'm not the GM or anything like that,” Paul said on if he will be back with the Suns next season via the Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin. “So, we'll see.”
He played in Los Angeles from 2013-17.
