If the Lakers are most likely to get the No. 1 spot this summer, I think it must be Chris Paul. Now the situation of the Warriors is like this, and they originally planned to take Paul's contract and drag it out to see if they can exchange it for some useful assets, but it seems that the market is completely cold.
The latest report is that, according to the WOJ, Chris Paul and the Warriors have agreed to postpone the guaranteed date of $30 million in his contract next season. The league's rules say that the Warriors decide whether to convert Paul's contract to a fully guaranteed contract before free agency opens.
The Warriors only have 2 options, either give Paul 30 million and let him play for the Warriors for another year. Or cut it and give other teams the possibility of signing with a base salary. Although, the Clippers have a little bit of interest in Paul. The version of the online transmission is also based on Paul + Payton Jr. + Looney + 2 first-round rotation George, but the Clippers don't seem to have much reaction. But the Warriors are so strong in their pursuit of George that they don't negotiate with Klay now.
Then Woj said that it gave the Warriors an extra two days to find a trade for Paul, but the most likely scenario would be for them to cut Paul and Paul become a free agent and sign with another team for a lower salary. It can be regarded as a good get-together and a good breakup, although Paul wants to stay with the Warriors, but the 30 million one-year contract must be a super premium existence, and the Warriors are not wronged, it is impossible to pay this salary for nothing, and it has to take a high luxury tax.
After losing to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the Warriors' playoff tournament this season, Chris Paul's final game with the Warriors is over. While Klay is an unstable factor, Paul and Wiggins are definitely a higher priority if they are to go.
Although he only played one season, the whole Warriors team loved Paul. Head coach Kerr concluded the season by saying, "His leadership has been outstanding, and our performance in Curry's downtime this season has been the best in recent years. He's very professional and I really hope to keep him in the team next year. ”
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy also said: "Paul is a great addition to us this season. He's in the dressing room, on the pitch, off the pitch, he's got everything for us. We'll move on and we're certainly interested in getting him back. ”
Paul has played in 58 games for the Warriors this season, averaging 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, shooting 44.1% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range. This is the first time Paul has been on the bench since entering the league. It was too much sacrifice for him, but the Warriors' roster was too deformed, and there were no consistent scoring points other than Curry, so they were eliminated early in the first round of the play-offs.
If Paul is cut, the Lakers will be one of Paul's next homes. After all, he wants to win the championship, and the Lakers need such a veteran to control the court and have a championship-winning team, and the most critical point is that Paul and Lao Zhan have a close relationship. Paul had the opportunity to join the Lakers in 2011, when the Lakers, Hornets and Rockets reached a three-way deal, which was already a foregone conclusion. was stopped by the league, and Paul and Kobe Bryant were gone. partnered with Lao Zhan this time, which can be regarded as making up for the good story at that time.