Chris Paul Wants to Play for the Bucks
During the Woj podcast this week, the Ringer's Ryen Russillo said Oklahoma City's Chris Paul would like to play for the Bucks. While it may sound like Sam Presti has a buyer for Paul's expensive contract, Milwaukee is another small-market club, who isn't interested in paying luxury tax money without a championship (or at least an appearance in the Finals) to show for it. Before this season, the last time the Bucks paid the tax was 2003, and in 2017, they stretched Spencer Hawes to avoid it.
According to Spotrac, the Bucks have the 20th highest payroll in the association and are currently 20 million over the cap. The Thunder, despite being 26th on that list, is still in the luxury tax themselves, and when you look the Milwaukee roster, it's hard to see them dumping any of their three highest-paid players (Eric Bledsoe, Giannis, and Kris Middleton). Add to that Bledsoe is the starting point guard, being backed up by George Hill, where exactly does Paul fit?
If the Thunder (1-3) keeps struggling selling fans, the idea that this team can compete for a spot in the postseason becomes mute. Sam Presti has called this a year of discovery, and what is being discovered is the future is now. The quicker you can trade Paul, the better it is for all parties involved. Especially Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Right now, Alexander is proving to be a more than an efficient scorer. Geilegous-Alexander is 15th in the NBA in scoring averaging 24 points per game and shooting 48 percent from the field. However, for a future point guard, he's only averaging three-assist per game. While it could be tempting for Donovan to Start Dennis Schroder once Paul is gone, if Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be the point guard of the future, it would be wise to get him on that track now.
