The Wizards are fielding offers to re-route Chris Paul to a contender, which is why the blockbuster trade with the Suns may take a few days to be officially completed, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
Phoenix is in the process of acquiring star wing Bradley Beal, with the Wizards expected to receive Paul, Landry Shamet, multiple second-round picks, and multiple pick swaps in the trade. The parameters of the trade could be altered somewhat if a third team is involved.
The Clippers are expected to pursue a reunion with Paul, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT (Twitter link). As Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype notes (Twitter link), the Clippers would need to send out $22.6MM to match salaries for Paul.
That could be achieved in a number of ways. Eric Gordon ($20.9MM non-guaranteed), Marcus Morris ($17.1MM), Robert Covington ($11.7MM), Nicolas Batum ($11.7MM), Amir Coffey ($3.7MM) and Bones Hyland ($2.3MM) are some of the salaries the Clippers could combine to make it happen.
If the Clippers were to acquire Paul, it would seemingly extinguish the possibility of re-signing Russell Westbrook, who will be an unrestricted free agent. It would also set up an intriguing three-star core group with Paul distributing to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Paul played for the Clippers from 2011-17.
The Wizards could actually sign off on the original two-team deal and then try to flip Paul, but they have incentive to wait, John Hollinger of The Athletic tweets. A three-team swap could create a larger trade exception for Washington, particularly if one of the players they receive fits into the $6.3MM trade exception they possess as a result of trading Rui Hachimura to the Lakers last season.
I thought Clips would jump in with all those redundant expiring’s- Makes too much sense –
I like Paul on Clips
Does Winger realize he works for WSH now?
Eric Gordon, Amir Coffey, Jayson Preston, Clippers 2029 1st to Washington
Chris Paul to the Clippers
No way anyone gives up a 1st for Paul.
2nd round pick*
Why can’t Paul be sent to the Sixers
He has zero interest in the Sixers
CP3 on a vet minimum is a great deal. At 25m (or anything higher then the vets min) is pathetically stupid and a typical Clipper deal
He would be a good influence on Maxey and they could play together I think
I know another Sixers fan said he has family on the West Coast and wants to stay out there
Still though, the Sixers should try
How would you match salary? The wizards would have to want Tobias, doubtful if they are going full rebuild. Otherwise you have to give up the entire bench to match. Tucker (11), melton (8), korkmaz (5), house (4). It would be tough.
Three star lineup?
Maybe in name recognition but not on the floor.
I like that Clips roster better than the Suns roster, I’ll tell you that. At least the stars fit together.
The Suns have a roster?
That’s assuming the 3 of them ever actually PLAY on said floor together….
You’re more likely to see the three of them in street clothes on the bench.
Clippers would be better off keeping Westbrook then going after Chris Paul
100% agreed. Russ fits well on that team, and is better than CP at this stage IMO. He’ll also play more games and be available/healthy, unlike CP.
They should really just buy out Chris Paul. Why take on that extra money?
Well if they buy him out they will have a 25mil dead cap. If you trade him for 2 expiring you can get back less money(22mil) leta say gordon and bones and a second pick. You get bones hyland a decent player a second round pick and you can waive gordon so your dead cap is only 20mil.
Actually think Clipps could find a way to way to add Paul and Westbrook. The crazy Clippers fan in me says to snag Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan as well, but those two are mascots at this point. Would be fun haha, nostalgia wise
I would say bring back Blake and DeAndre because the last two guys on the roster never play anyways… but given all the load management on the Clips, that’s not the case.
It would be funny and interesting
Paul is only partially guarantee 15mm
The issue getting more value which adding more teams helps take advantage of their trade exceptions and perhaps draft capital.
They are going to have to guarantee 25.5 mill on Paul anyways to get the trade thru-
Can take back 27 Mill in Marcus Morris & Covington and prolly net 2 2nd rd picks for the extra 1.5 mill taken in
Makes a ton of sense for the Clips who have 27 mill expiring sitting on their bench. Even moreso for the Wizards. Clips cut the market out on Paul as well as he happily takes his extra cash and goes home Everyone wins
* My favorite part of all this is that Mat Ishbia and Steve Ballmer fly the bird at Silvers new Cba if only for a small moment in time
NBA’s always needed owners willing to work against the grain. Super exciting for the fans; creates ripples in the markets that we need created for them to be whole and healthy (something Silver doesn’t want apparently)
Westbrook better then Paul. Both are fading for sure but let’s be clear on which player can still play and play better
I know who the better shooter, defender and decision-maker is. I also know which one shoots about 90% from the free throw line, and which one shoots under 70%. What more do you want from a “role” player running the point? We all know without me even typing the name Chris Paul.
I know which ones gives more heart and hustle, and is actually available to play majority of the games, unlike the “other one”.
How about Chris Paul and a first to the Nets, and the Wizards get Ben Simmons
I like the idea of Simmons going to Washington.
But maybe that could be in a subsequent trade so Washington still get their big trade exception and can give one to Brooklyn as well?
The Mayor of Washington DC is in the process of getting a statue erected back at the crib for Kevin Durant. He didn’t come home to play, but got them out of $200+ million of Brad Beal and $25-30 million per for 4 years of Kuzma, and $35 million per for 4-5 years by re-upping with Porzingis. Not even a play-in team together, and the Wizards can begin the rebuild that should have started 3 years ago.
You know Monty Williams is dancing alone right now…loving every minute
On Dec. 8 in 2011, then NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed a three-team trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. It would have paired CP3 with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles but it also had a lot of other moving parts.
There is no way this Beal trade should go thru. It’s worse than the 2011 trade …
The league owned the hornets at the time, so it’s not apples to apples
Bones Hyland was mad about not getting enough minutes on a championship winning team and then got traded to a team where he’s gonna get even less playing time than he could’ve in Denver.
Bad move by him but I think he might get offered a ring still
Chris Paul, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard would combine to play 82 games
If that.
Westbrook better than Chris Paul.