Opinion
CP3 was an overachiever in 2020.
Even though the Thunder had been given a 0.2 per cent chance to make the postseason, he still managed to lead OKC to a close seven-game series with the Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Despite being an excellent fit for Oklahoma, the 2012 Western Conference champions are set to go into deep rebuilding, having parted ways with former head coach Billy Donovan.
It is fair to say that CP3 should look for another destination in the next offseason because OKC’s rebuilding process is unlikely to provide the 35-year-old veteran with the chances of winning his much-deserved ring.
With this in mind, let’s talk about possible landing spots for Chris Paul in NBA free agency.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers need to add depth to their roster to chase back-to-back championships, as they did not have a consistent third star to step up when LeBron James or Anthony Davis would struggle.
CP3 could certainly be a tremendous fit for the reigning champions, as his qualified playmaking would diversify their offensive options. Moreover, it would be a huge narrative to see two members of the “Banana Boat Crew” playing together and possibly winning a ring.
On the other hand, trading for Chris Paul is nearly impossible for the Lakers, due to his massive contract: around $41 million (A$59 million) in the next season. LA would be forced to trade six or more players of their roster to match that amount of money.
Hence, trading for him would be highly counterproductive as they would lose depth in their roster trading that many players, even with Paul’s addition.
Milwaukee Bucks
In contrast with the Lakers, the Bucks’ dream season turned into playoff nightmare. The Heat exposed Milwaukee’s flaws in their five-game series: Giannis Antetokounmpo does not have a teammate that can step up when he is slowed down.
Miami’s aggressive and well-structured defence suffocated the back-to-back MVP, forcing the Bucks to rely on Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe to be their main scorers. Both struggled, because they might be solid role players but are certainly not stars.
Furthermore, it is fair to say that this is a do-or-die season for the 1971 Champs: the Greek Freak was clearly frustrated at the end of the season as he unfollowed his teammates on Instagram and indicated that he wished to leave Milwaukee unless deep changes were made.
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Considering this, Cream City should target Chris Paul, who could give them an offensive versatility and solid three-point shooting. Moreover, Paul reportedly wanted to be traded to Milwaukee in the 2019 offseason, so chemistry should not be a problem.
Financially, the Bucks are in a much better position than the Lakers due to their own massive contract: Khris Middleton. The 29-year-old small forward will be paid around $30 million (A$43 million) in 2021.
So, if the Bucks can involve Middleton and another player in the deal, such as Brook Lopez or Bledsoe, they could acquire CP3 and give Antetokounmpo a solid second star to make him re-sign in 2021.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers had a horrible season in 2020: poor coaching, disappointing defence and injuries resulted in a first-round sweep to the Boston Celtics. In addition to that, Philly’s roster lacks shooters and has serious salary-cap problems, as role players like Tobias Harris and Al Horford are highly overpaid.
However, things are set to change in the City of Brotherly Love: Doc Rivers replaced Brett Brown as head coach and, more recently, Daryl Morey was hired to run basketball operations.
Needless to say, Chris Paul would be a perfect fit for the Sixers. His consistent shooting behind the arc and solid defending would solve many of Philadelphia’s problems. Moreover, CP3 has already worked with Doc Rivers in LA and Morey in Houston, so his adaptation wouldn’t be an issue.
Financially, the 76ers have two gigantic contracts that could be involved in a possible trade: Horford and Harris, but one could argue OKC is unlikely to accept them as they do not fit in their current rebuilding mentality.
Therefore, Ben Simmons could be involved in the deal because his poor shooting does not fit Daryl Morey’s system and the Thunder could certainly use Simmons’ skills in their roster.
To sum up, Philadelphia has at least three options to form a trade package for a player that could solve many of their problems and provide them with a leap into the conference’s top tier.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Nikola Jokic has scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead defending NBA champions Denver past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers…
There will undoubtedly be upset results here and there in the NBA playoffs but there’s an overwhelming sense of fait accompli that Boston will…
LeBron James is going back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Steph Curry is headed to the games for the…
The only realistic threat to Boston’s chances of strolling through the Eastern Conference is a team that could still end up in the play-in…
Australian guards Dante Exum and Josh Giddey have both come up big for their NBA clubs in crucial wins in the lead-in to the…
Minnesota Timberwolves fans have endured plenty of pain in their 35 years of being a laughing stock in the NBA. In all that time,…
