The Warriors cut Paul without paying any salary, and then Paul turned down the Lakers' offer to base salary, and it was rumored that Paul would join the Spurs. Popovich offered Paul a one-year, $11 million contract, and after the price was announced, fans suddenly realized that Paul was still looking at the money. In the face of money and winning the championship, Paul chose more secure money.
There is no controversy that the Warriors cut Paul due to the team's strategy and salary structure, and Paul has been waiting for this moment as he enters the offseason. Paul has been put on the shelf before, but apparently no team is willing to eat Paul's 30 million contract, so the Warriors can only cut it. This decision undoubtedly brought new challenges to Paul's career. However, Paul was not deterred by this, and he quickly adjusted his mindset and faced the various options in the market.
Surprisingly, Paul turned down a contract with a base salary thrown by the Lakers. As a giant team in the NBA, the Lakers have an illustrious history and a large fan base. But Paul, after weighing the pros and cons, firmly chose to refuse. This decision is not a disparage for the Lakers, but Paul's clear perception of his own value and long-term plans for the future. He knows that a base salary contract cannot match his strength and contribution, and he deserves better pay and opportunities.
The San Antonio Spurs managed to recruit him with a salary of 11 million. The news caused an instant uproar in the league, and Paul's choice was widely praised. In the era when Redick can get an annual salary of 8 million, Paul, a superstar with more experience on the court and known as an on-court coach, feels a little little less with $11 million, and Paul's experience is really worth so much money.
Paul is going to assist Wembanyama, and with the combination of Paul and Popovich, Wembanyama may have to grow by leaps and bounds next season. Wembanyama, a young player with high expectations, is at a critical juncture in his development. Paul's arrival undoubtedly provided him with an experienced mentor. Paul's excellent passing vision and playmaking skills will help Wembanyama get more and better shots in the game, accelerating his growth and improvement.
From the team's point of view, the Spurs' signing of Paul was a very forward-looking move. They see what Paul can bring to the team in terms of experience and technique, and they believe that he can develop good chemistry with the team's young players and work together for the team's revival. In this business-like alliance, Paul's choice shows his wisdom and courage. He rejected the temptation of a basic salary and firmly pursued treatment that matched his own worth. At the same time, his choice to join the Spurs also shows his love for basketball and desire to win.
Although the possibility of the Spurs winning the championship is not high, the possibility of the Spurs entering the playoffs next season is still very high, if the Spurs have other operations after that, or even introduce a star, then Paul still has hope of winning the championship, of course, it depends on Wembanyama's growth rate, this genius is likely to grow into a supergiant overnight, just like Doncic, his debut is the peak, and the second year is the favorite for MVP.