Realizing that they couldn't get Paul George, Warriors management didn't turn Paul's remaining $30 million contract into security, but quickly cut him. Paul, who has returned to free agency, is not without the ball, and several teams want to recruit him, and the Spurs have emerged as the eventual victors - Haynes reports that Paul signed for the Spurs; Woj added that Paul signed with the Spurs for $11 million a year.
Finally, Wembanyama was lucky to meet the right person at the right time, and Paul was here.
Throughout the current NBA, no point guard knows how to work with a center better than Paul, a master in the field of interior training.
In the 23-24 regular season, the 39-year-old Paul played 58 regular season games for the Warriors, averaging 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. Perhaps, Paul does not have the offensive influence of his prime, but he can help the development of young insiders, which is what he is good at.
In the 19 seasons since his debut, Paul has played for the Hornets, Clippers, Rockets, Thunder, Suns, and Warriors, averaging 17.5 points, 9.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, and his career honors are: 12 All-Star selections, 6 steal kings, 5 assists kings, 11 All-Star selections, 9 All-Defensive Team selections, and 1 All-Star Game MVP.
As a result, this offensive and defensive point guard captured the title of "God of Point Guard", and most of the interior players who have worked with him have played worth:
In the past, during the Hornets (now Pelicans) era, the pick-and-roll cooperation between Paul and West inside was a big killer move for that team.
Later, after coming to the Clippers, Griffin and Jordan Jr. became the king of cakes, and the two interior players quickly grew into the league's All-Star interior line, and the Clippers were also promoted to a major powerhouse in the West.
And Paul during the Rockets also has the ability to make Capela's finishing efficiency higher, and the title of cake king naturally has Paul's credit.
During the period of cooperation with the Suns, Paul also made the champion Ayton grow rapidly, and he did not fall behind in the confrontation with Mr. Yue.
Of course, Paul can also make it easier for teammates in other positions to score, and Alexander's offensive accomplishments now include Paul's shadow in many moves.
And the most unpleasant thing for Lakers fans is the 2011 transaction that has been "stillborn" - Paul teamed up with Kobe, but they didn't know that it was the peak of the two overlapping; Coupled with the Lakers' group of talented interior players, with Paul as an offensive amplifier, the Lakers' interior strength will inevitably skyrocket.
Now at the end of his career, Paul's championship dream may be fading away, but he is still shining - helping Wembanyama grow into a more well-rounded interior lineman, perhaps the "last dance" of the point guard god. As far as the eye can see, we should also cherish it, otherwise we will regret it after we lose it.
In the 23-24 season of the rookie season, Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.6 blocks per game, and the shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage were not high, which is why the Spurs recruited Paul - to make Wembanyama's offensive efficiency to the next level.
Paul is a very smart player, and it's all about how to draw fouls, dribble, pass, steal, block, etc., all of which are very important for a rookie.
Judging from the data, Wembanyama, who has excellent offense and defense, is like a piece of jade, which needs to be built by Popovich and Paul, and will inevitably shine in the future.
When it comes to the entanglement between Paul and the Spurs, it has to be traced back to the first round of the 2015 playoffs: Paul attacked with the ball in the final moments, and beat the Spurs by playing the board, and that round of the series was as exciting as the Finals.
Paul and Duncan then hugged each other and wept, presumably this is the hero's pity - but the cruelty of competitive sports is that only one side can advance to the winner.
Now that Popovich is going around and around, he and Paul have met again, and I think they will have some memories of the past.