Inside The Suns

Insider: Suns 'Most Likely' Signing Chris Paul

Chris Paul is rumored to be returning to the Phoenix Suns.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul talks to Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul talks to Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In this story:


The Phoenix Suns haven't had the loudest free agency compared to the rest of the league.

The biggest move of note was the signing of point guard Collin Gillespie, but the Suns could also be looking to bring back another former guard of theirs.

ESPN insider Ramona Shelburne is reporting that the Suns are "most likely" bringing back Chris Paul in free agency.

Paul, who turned 40 in May, is still looking to stick around in the NBA two decades after he was taken with the No. 4 overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets. He spent his first six seasons with the Hornets before a blockbuster trade sent him to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011.

Paul then spent six seasons with the Clippers before a shocking trade to the Houston Rockets ahead of the 2017-18 campaign. Paul played just two seasons for the Rockets, helping them reach the Western Conference Finals before a hamstring injury knocked him out of the final two games of the series against the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook and spent one season with them, gaining back some of the fire he once had in his prime. That led him to being traded again, this time to the Suns.

In Phoenix, Paul led the Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021, but the team fell short against the Milwaukee Bucks. In the two seasons to follow, Paul was unable to help the Suns get further, which led to another trade.

In the past two seasons, Paul has been viewed as a role player for the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, but now as a free agent, he is looking for familiarity in a competitive role. That's why Phoenix could be the ideal landing spot for the future Hall-of-Famer.

He could take Tyus Jones' role in the offense and start at times, but he could also come off the bench in favor of Devin Booker and Jalen Green.


Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several On SI sites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid and resides in Central Florida. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener.