Chris Paul is arguably the greatest point guard of his generation. He is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer. In his prime, Paul was among the best playmakers in NBA history and one of the best defensive guards in the world. Even now, at age 38, Paul is still an upper-tier ball-handler.
Paul has been coming off the Golden State Warriors bench this past season. He was traded to the Bay Area as part of the deal that sent Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards. Unfortunately, Paul's presence on the roster failed to have the desired effect. On Tuesday, the Sacramento Kings eliminated Golden State from playoff contention.
Paul hinted to the media during his postgame news conference that he would be returning next season.
“I think for me, I showed the ability to adapt and change,” Paul said. “But first and foremost, I’m a competitor. I want to hoop and I just love to play. I love to play; I love to contribute. I think it’s a big summer... I got to get back to work."
The veteran guard will undoubtedly find a home in the league. However, it's not clear whether that home will continue to be with the Warriors. Paul's $30 million salary is fully non-guaranteed, so his future with the cap-strapped Warriors is in question. As such, Paul would need to agree terms on a more team-friendly deal if he wished to remain with the Warriors.
Wherever Paul ends up playing, he will likely be a key piece on the team's rotation. He has shown he's capable of being a core player off the bench. A second-unit role would make sense, given his age and declining athleticism. Paul played 58 games for the Warriors this season. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range.
A championship has evaded Paul throughout his career. His next stop is likely with a contending team as he looks to add a ring to his resume before bowing out of the league and calling time on his historic career.
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