After the Rockets and Thunder agreed on a trade that sends Russell Westbrook to Houston and Chris Paul to Oklahoma City, the latter’s future remains a big question. Paul wants to play for a contender and after the Thunder parted ways with Westbrook and Paul George, it’s clear the franchise has entered a rebuilding stage.
Once the trade becomes official, the Thunder will likely explore trade scenarios for Paul. To this point, the Heat appear to be the leading suitor – if not the only suitor – for Paul’s services.
“The conversation with Miami was ongoing prior to the deal that got Chris Paul to Oklahoma City,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on Friday’s edition of Get Up! “He’s 34 years old, he wants to be on a team that has playoff aspirations.
“The market for Chris Paul is going to be small. But Miami is at the top of that list. They’d like to get a deal done as soon as they can.”
Wojnarowski noted that Miami does not have much cap space or draft assets to give up in a potential Paul trade. However, pairing Paul with their prized offseason acquisition, Jimmy Butler, could make the Heat a more serious threat in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
However, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link) relayed that Miami is doing its “due diligence” on Paul, but not aggressively pursuing the veteran.
It remains to be seen where Paul winds up for the 2019/20 season, but as Wojnarowski noted, OKC swung the deal with the intention of flipping the nine-time All-Star.
“Their hope in getting this deal done with Chris Paul was that he doesn’t play a game in a Thunder uniform,” Wojnarowski said.
Miami honestly seems like the only place that wants CP3
Not true. State Farm still wants him
What dies this mean for his SF agent? … and that robot?
Does
His State Farm agent is probably going to have to go back to work for that little paper company he used to work for.
alot of new khakis
That robot can be packed and reprogrammed and taken anywhere and now has the account.
I think that’s likely one of few teams that have need + ability to trade matching salary for players they are willing to give up.
Minnesota makes sense too. Orlando maybe. Charlotte maybe. Toronto? San Antonio? Possibly even more options if you are thinking of a PG swap as well.
There are enough options that OKC doesn’t necessarily have to feel backed into a corner by Miami.
He wants a contender. Not the Knicks
@washington_bonercats
Funny. I don’t remember saying a word about the Knicks, or Cavs for that matter.
The market for Chris Paul is going to be small
Well yeah because of all this money in this league, but it’s jammed up! It’s all because of silliness! Everyone wants a hundred bazillion dollars, but once they get it, they are frozen basically and it causes parity. SMH
Free Agency was supposed to help you get where you want to go, but now…….
not the player’s fault. when you have all of these pre-set spending limits, mandates and salary floors/ ceilings.
It’s not going to change but if they’re were no salary restrictions just penalties and no max deals then i think you’ll see market corrections where arguably the two best players in the nba, LBJ and Kawhi, will see 6 or 7 other players making more then them. And while some of them are truly great MVP like guys, players like Wall and CP3 haven’t been top 5 nba players in years
NBA has to make some concessions.
When this sort of think happens the NBA should allow teams to eat salary without hurting their cap. That way it would free up things and allow everyone to get on with it!
The cap in the NBA & NHL are jails for clubs and players with the other holding the key.
You should be able to buy out whomever and not have it count.
You get one buyout every other year. That way you can acquire assets and a buyout player.
You should also have a home grown asset-meaning that the player drafted can sign for any amount,while a free agent player can also do the same-and both not have it count against the cap. Also a veteran slot for over 35 veteran if you choose. And you cannot trade the slots.
Glad I worked for an NHL PA. I loved it but these sports just shoot themselves in the foot almost yearly.
Buyout & waive. Already can be done in the NBA. Just not a good option in this case.
Miami does not want Chris Paul. Stop trying to create rumors that force him to us Woj.
Nobody wants CP3 for that matter. That contract is a hindrance for any team especially this late in the free agency stages where no one has that kind of cap space. Two weeks two late buddy…. you’re stuck in OKC buddy!
Take him and like it.
And who are you?
That’s madmanTX. It’s right above his comment, which was fantastic and made me laugh.
@stretch123 And Presti will make you say “thank you sir. can i have another one”.
#GMtoGMbDsM
I am sooooo positive Riley will cough up at least some combo of unprotected 1st picks and at least Kpala. I think he ultimately would’ve given up Herro for Westbrook but probably not for Paul. Let’s see how this plays out.
Cap-wise, this trade works:
MIA get Paul and Roberson
OKC get Dragic, Johnson, Olynyk and Maten (after guaranteeing his $1.6MM)
I don’t think the Heat would have to add any draft compensation with that package. At the most maybe a 2nd. OKC can flip Dragic’s expiring or stay competitive with:
Adams
Johnson
Gallinari
SGA
Dragic
Paul can only be traded by himself.
That team certainly isn’t competitive
Hawks gonna get CP3
This would be poetic considering the 2005 NBA Draft.
What part of Chris Paul wants to play for a contender was not clear? Oh wait you actually believe the Atlanta Hawks are contenders that’s cute. Like most years when may rolls around you’ll be sitting here hoping the Atlanta Hawks win the NBA lottery.
Obviously the hawks are not playoff contenders but most years the hawks have been a playoff team not a lottery team.
I don’t think that is obvious at all. The Hawks were only a few games out last year and this year have one more year of experience. I don’t see them as favorites to win the East by any means, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they snuck in as a 7 or 8 seed this year.
What difference does it make what CP wants? He has no NTC.
Minnesota makes sense but I don’t think they’re a serious threat in the west, even if they acquired Paul.
Do you think OKC would be interested in a Wiggins CP3 swap? There would obviously have to be other players/picks. But I could see that happening
I think if CP3 could get over himself then I could see him fitting in very well in MINNY.
Dieng/Wiggins works money wise. The big question is would Minnesota want to do that unless there was a third team involved to move Jeff Teague to. Teague/Wiggins is too much money for a deal for Paul. Teague/Dieng could also work, but Minny might want out of Wiggins. They are an interesting potential spot though.
Nobody wants Wiggins.
I really hope Miami unloads more useful pieces to match salary in a CP3 trade. Butler and Paul won’t be nearly enough to make Miami a contender, and Jimmy being who Jimmy is will become a malcontent real quick. Let the sh!t show begin.
If he could some how be less expensive every team would want him.
I doubt that. He’s an issue everywhere he goes.
If he was making even 20M a year you’d have 3/4ths of the league involved.
But isn’t accurate to say that the issues his teammates have had from him came from guys who either are perceived as soft (Griffin) or don’t play three game the right way (Paul)? The only issues I’ve ever heard ACTUAL PLAYERS articulate out in the open, not as a “sources said”, is that he’s an over aggressive floor general who barks at teammates and will confront them directly if he feels like it’s needed. I think veterans who prepare for the game the right way, tip top conditioning, high IQ players that buy into a team offense would likely get along with him. I’ve also heard some player say on ESPN that his authoritative disposition coupled with being one of the heads of the players union made some guys see him as “not one of the guys” and that he’s always trying to keep guys in check. If we all agree that Harden is a ball hog who hurts the team by playing too much ISO then can we get mad at Paul, who’s more of a pass first PG, for voicing his frustration to Harden and D’Antonio, most often privately away from cameras and the media? He wasn’t angy because he himself wasn’t getting enough shots but that Harden was working within the offense choosing more ISO play. and when off the ball Harden frustrated Paul because he would just stand on the side and watch the other 4 guys try and run plays instead of setting screens for others or simply moving around if for no other reason than to be a decoy.
also, seems like ppl are mad because he’s overpaid. not his fault. he’s not giving any less effort to live up to his responsibilities. not like he got fat or stopped playing hard. blame the guy that signed his check.
If the Morey failed to sit coach and players down and come to an agreement on HOW they were going to adjust play to cater to the meshing of the two players style under the team concept then shame on him or shame on D’Antonio or Harden for not making adjustments.
LBJ always criticized: no one wants to play with him. CP3 deserves same He is a little dweeb with a big mouth. Never happy…hornets/clippers/rockets/thunder. He portrays himself as the missing piece…he is….POS! He is 34…over weight…and only 6 feet tall in a grown mans league. Overpaid!!! Rockets lucky to dump him.
I have to agree with hoosier I mean sure 4 years ago he was an elite PG but now he is not top 12 and is paid like top 3. Rox had no choice but to honor the deal they made with him before start of 17 season. I don’t see how OKC can move him W/O pairing him with an asset or two and taking back some bad debt of their own albeit with a less duration.
I don’t think MIA will happen as that would put them to close to the hard cap with not enough $ to fill out roster. CHA makes the most sense with Batum and maybe even byombos bad contracts coming into play.
Rozier? Why go that route? They would make more sense in trading for Adam’s via Biymobos and MKGs expiring deals + a 1st. Actually get a legit center for 2 years. CP3 doesnt make sense for them. He makes sense for a team like Miami. They have Dragics expiring contract and Johnson could be dealt to a 3rd team for an expiring contract. The goal is complete salary dump not take on years.
@ Z-A I mean you don’t really know what Rozier is … and MJ seems to be content as long as CHA is in the playoff hunt and I think CP3 would help keep them in that 7/8 spot.
Cp3 may also take this as a wake up call and drop a few lbs and come into the season more ready to play and we know he would mix well with byombo like he did with chandler/Jordan/capela….
Charlotte makes the most sense?
It make no sense at all.
Of course OKC has to give up assets– Probably the two firsts they got for acquiring him. That trade was done more as a favor to Russ than for gain.
And yes shorter salaries. So they gain a little.
Seriously, where do these narratives come from?
not even a major “fan” of either LBJ nor Paul but this is ridiculous.
a) “no one wants to play with LBJ”. Instead say “most the other elite players in FA” don’t want to play with him. Those are the KD, Kawhis, Kyrie guys. Other stars, future HOF and veteran role players have shown they had no problem joining even if it meant sacrificing some of their stats. Wade, Bosh, Love and all the vets that could’ve gotten more but took less to join his team’s.
b) Chris Paul is what you want from your point guard. Top 3 in assists per game this year. Top 3 in steals per game. Only averaged 12.5 shot attempts per game. That’s 3rd behind Gordon and Harden on the team. Harden took twice as many shots per game (25) than Paul (12.4). In fact, Harden MISSED more shots (1,066) then Paul even attempted all year (720). He also had half of the turnovers per game (2.3) than Harden (5). He’s also a better defender, tho not as great as he was when younger.
Seems to me we should be mad at Harden and D’Antonio. Paul is the same guy he’s been since day one. An aggressive leader on the floor who plays hard and passes the ball more than he shoots. Boo hoo because he tries to hold his teammates accountable and doesn’t say it in a soothing fashion. You put him on the GSW, Lakers or Spurs and i bet we wouldn’t hear a peep because of the high IQ of some of those players or coaching systems. Almost all the top PG are much flashier (Kyrie, Westbrook, Wall) or prone to shoot first guys (Harden, Curry to an extent, Kyrie, Kemba).
Olynyk Dragic and Winslow plus make the 2023 unprotected….
that leaves the roster too short and not enough space to fill it out.
If they didn’t give up Winslow for Russ what makes you think is gonna happen with CP3?? delusional OKC fan
Winslow didn’t necessarily seem to be the issue. OKC wanted two of Winslow, Adebayo, and Herro.
Frankly, of those three, Winslow – especially considering his price tag – is the most likely of the three to wind up with the Thunder.
If OKC gets lucky they get Dragic, Johnson and Olynyk that’s it. Nobody wants him and his contract, OKC might have to throw in a pick.
Dragic, Johnson, Olynyk, Maten (after guaranteeing his $1.6MM) and maybe a future 2nd for Paul and Roberson.
OKC is not getting Winslow, Adebayo or Herro for CP3. Maybe Jones Jr instead of Maten but even that is unlikely.
I said it when he signed that contract he was sure never to win. Cripple your teams cap and that’s not even the worst part. The complaining. His clipper teams were a soap opera. not a champion and will never win or even play 60 games in a season
If I’m Miami I steer very clear of Paul and his contract. They’ll be trading Butler in a year if they add Paul. OKC going to have to either keep him or figure out a way to buy out the contract and that may be the most painful thing even seen in the NBA.
@senioreditor
Paul is still a top 10 PG and it’s not even a question. 3rd is assists per game and steals per game. YES, he is overpaid as are Paul Milsap and a dozen other NBA players. OKC is going to rebuild. They can easily do so with Paul and a bunch of young and cheap players on the roster.
Westbrook + PG13 + Grant – Paul – Gallinari + SGA= $16 mil less than was on their books prior to the PG13 trade. Seeing as how they will likely build around younger players the next 2 or 3 years they should be able to still do so with Paul’s contract on the books. It’s not like that money would’ve been spent trying to sign a major FA or to compete for a title run.
Maybe a John Wall swap but OKC would have to sweeten any deal.
Why would OKC have to sweeten a swap of bad contract and healthy (3/$124 mil) for a worse contract (4/$170) and bad health as Wall’s missed at least 40 games in 2017 and 2018 and expected to miss all of 2019? Who even knows what kind of player he is when he returns? The only reason because they went from Westbrook to Paul was because of a limited market and the two 1st round picks Houston was willing to offer. If a Paul for Wall swap were to happen and I’m positive the Wizards would be more than happy to give up a few 1st round picks. They could go into 2019 with Paul and CJ both able to compete and trim a nifty $46 mil off of future salary commitments.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. CP3… good riddance.
As a mavs fan, id take him to help set up Luka and KP. But id also want some of those picks OKC got as well
It would take Four 1st back for Miami to even start thinking about a trade for Paul.
He’s complete toxic waste.
Hornet are the single best option,
PG-Paul, SG-Rozier.
Paul, Robinson, 3 – 1st for
Biyombo, Williams, Gilchrist.
Bite the bullet this year, be a bank next year, ready for 2021.
Paul can play out his days at home and maybe even help the Hornets.
This whole deal was about honoring Westbrook and that’s been done.
On to next chapter.
What about Orlando? They have a gluttony of big men and no point guard.
Yes but probably still dreaming on Fultz. Maybe at midseason. They would have Fournier 17, Fultz 10, Aminu 9 as tradables. (Need to get to 30.5)
It’s a shame, but he’s falling/fallen into that Melo category now. Big contract, looking to find a home. And he’ll probably retire without a championship unless someone buys him out and he’s a free agent.
He’s not a likely liability though like Melo; he’s just overpaid. As such, no shame, he got what he wanted.
Minny is the only place that makes sense for him as most teams already have a serviceable or young pg that they are trying to develop. The other teams that can use his services like say a Knicks, Pistons, or Hornets don’t have the stomach for his contract or age. He’ll go to Miami no doubt.
The problem is that a lot of players get a max deal, or very close to it. Things fall apart, and now they want out for a number of different reasons. They want to go to, what else, “contender.” And that’s where the problem is. Contenders aren’t made up of rookies and guys who’ve been in the league a few years. Contenders have a few elite players who are getting max deals. As a Bucks fan, Middleton isn’t a max deal guy, but they pretty much had to sign him anyway as I think the well would have dried up trying to sign his replacement. KD wasn’t going there. Everyone, including myself, wants their cake and eat it too, but there can be problems down the line. Think, the Minnesota Wild and the 2 huge contracts to Parise and Suter. They’ll be in their 40’s when they play their last year.
Such a high price on cancer these days.
honestly if he just wants a championship… sign to vet min and sign with whoever can win a championship… but obviously its more than just the championship with thos guy..
CP3 should take his $115M ± and live with it. With SGA, they could improve over the next 3 years.
He wanted to play for a contender in NO, LA, Houston, but wanted to run his mouth and GET PAID. 3 opportunities he wasted away. Go play for a loser you cry baby.
A loser state with brutally cold winters. Not at all like Kansas. Yeah we got it.
Have to agree though that CP3 is not going to get all his wishes. Take the money or turn it down to get on a contender. He can take his pick. Probably will wait until Jan/Feb.
I find the latter probable. Then see all these people critical of $150mil CP3 be fans of $30mil CP3! It’s all nuts money to these guys.
His State Farm agent could sell him hurricane insurance
Could CP3 work out a buyout? Maybe half the money… he would get a contract for the other half over the same amount of time.
CP3 to 6ers for Simmons. He could make that team better. Detroit….no way. Griffin will say no. Not sure presti will do it.
If he wants a realistic shot at a championship his best bet is probably do a buy out and join his buddy LeBron in Los Angeles.