Making an appearance on Sunday night’s broadcast of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Thunder point guard Chris Paul was asked how he feels about spending the “twilight years” of his career with a retooling Oklahoma City team. As Tim Bontemps of ESPN details, Paul expressed no complaints about his time in OKC and seemed to welcome the idea of remaining with the club.
“I just love to hoop,” Paul said. “(Former Thunder coach) Billy Donovan was amazing. My teammates have been amazing. So, for me, you call it twilight years, I call it a blessing. Just being able to compete at a high level at 35 years old, (I’m going to) just keep rolling.”
Trade rumors have swirled around Paul since the day he was sent to OKC in July 2019. Having traded away Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and Jerami Grant and stockpiled draft picks, the Thunder were viewed as a strong candidate to go all-in on a rebuild. However, the team ended up keeping Paul and exceeded expectations during the 2019/20 season, compiling a 44-28 record and pushing the Rockets to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
Paul, who now has just two years left on his pricey contract, figures to become a trade candidate again this offseason. But if the Thunder front office doesn’t find a deal it likes, it sounds like the veteran point guard will be fine with returning to Oklahoma City for at least one more season.
Here’s more on the Thunder:
- Like Paul, Carmelo Anthony says he liked playing in Oklahoma City, though he admitted that the Thunder team he was a part of in 2017/18 didn’t outperform its expectations like this year’s group did. “For me personally, I actually really enjoyed my time at OKC. That team, I enjoyed it. Being around those guys, I enjoyed it,” Anthony said during an appearance on J.J. Redick‘s The Old Man and the Three podcast (link via Nick Crain of Forbes). “Granted, we didn’t do what we were supposed to do. The goal was to win with that team. We didn’t do it. We underachieved. … I wish OKC would’ve worked out.”
- If the Thunder decide to stay in-house and promote a current assistant to fill their head coaching vacancy, Mark Daigneault would be a prime candidate, according to Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, who takes a closer look at the OKC assistant.
- In case you missed it last week, Precious Achiuwa, RJ Hampton, Tre Jones, and Tyrell Terry are among the draft-eligible prospects who have met with the Thunder.
Expectations should be even lower in 2021, even though they were exceeded this year. OKC will almost certainly be replaced by the Warriors as one of the 8 teams to reach the playoffs next season. The likelihood of CP3 staying healthy for the entire year and performing at an All-Star level has to be extremely low, assuming of course they don’t find a team willing to take him off their hands without attaching a first round pick or two.
Wouldn’t it be crazy if the thunder traded him and attached a bunch of first round picks all while downgrading at the position. That would be the second year in a row that would happen.
Your obsession with bashing every former Rocket stems from a fear of holding James Harden accountable. If OKC brings back Gallo they will once again have a solid roster capable of being in the playoffs. They took your supposedly far superior Rockets to 7 games and barley lost.
Really true. Why exactly is someone you don’t know or follow. Going to get injured. They had a short season. He doesn’t have to play big mins. And OKC should tank next yr. So they don’t need Chris to play big. I’m sure they will wait and see who comes calling. Gallinari is gone. So I doubt they want to make playoffs. Unless they get Griffin for nothing. Then he comes home to a reunion with Chris. Why be so negative. About a team you care nothing about. Glass is always half full to me.
Rockets are in bad shape bro. Only thing that will save them some. Is to move Westbrook. No one wants Harden. Westbrook trade can redo team. And still can be a playoff team. Small is dead with DAntoni gone. Westbrook and Harden is a worse mix than CP3 and Harden. I like Westbrook, so I hope he gets traded.
CP3 only played 31.5 mins a gm last yr. He is never getting hurt playing that. Relax bro
Eventually that prediction will sort of come true… the benefit of predicting demises. Didn’t the last time though because it’s just morbid wishing.
I think okc makes the playoffs again in 21. Go ahead and write em off again like you did this year.
Do you think they keep Chris Paul or trade him? He was a huge reason for their great season and if they trade him away I’m not sure they’re going to do as well.
Idk if CP3 and Gallo are going to be back, and idk what they can get for CP3 aside from what the Bucks have to offer.
Who would be taker for Steven Adams?
Too many teams in the West are coming back or on the rise. OKC is about to be a lottery team for a couple seasons.
Gallo probably going to Miami and CP3 to Milwaukee or Philadelphia
Steven Adams is interesting. My first thought says Charlotte. I think he could fit well there depending on who they get at 3. But as far as contenders go, I think the best fit could be Toronto. Gasol is likely gone and Ibaka could be gone so thy will need help in the middle. I don’t know if it is legal to have a sign and trade in a three team deal, but they could work out something with VanVleet going to a third party.
Perhaps with the Nets getting FVV, the Raptors getting Adams, and the Thunder picking up Allen & Prince with additional pieces being added as needed for salary needs.