Where do you go from here if you’re Chris Paul?
It might seem a little premature to be talking about it just hours after the Phoenix Suns lost Game 6 and an NBA title to the Milwaukee Bucks.
But the offseason is coming fast. And with it comes a decision for CP3 after falling short yet again in the postseason: does he opt in to earn over $44 million with the Suns? Or does he decline and go elsewhere to seek a ring?
Let’s look at it from how immediately the 36-year-old all-time great point guard could compete for a ring, because at this point, that’s all that’s missing from an otherwise awe-inspiring resume.
A lot of this depends on how the West shakes out in the rest of the summer. In theory, a Suns team with everyone returning including Paul is a top-two team in the West on paper right now.
But the Los Angeles Lakers could be healthy again and might tinker with the roster to be even better. The Golden State Warriors are getting Klay Thompson back and the buzz surrounding making a big trade is getting louder. The Utah Jazz were the No. 1 seed this season and the Denver Nuggets have the reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic.
So it’s not quite as easy for Paul to simply say he’s in and that’s that. But working in the Suns’ favor is the fact that this young team has Finals experience. Also worth noting: Deandre Ayton’s ascendance and Devin Booker’s work with Paul at the point prove they could be even better in 2021-22.
But opting out could mean we’re going to hear A LOT of “Paul is totally going to join his Banana Boat buddy LeBron in L.A.” (just ask Magic Johnson!)
If Chris Paul opts out of his contract with the Suns, his first call should be from his best friend LeBron James and the Lakers.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 21, 2021
A big three with LeBron, Chris, and AD will equal a NBA championship!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 21, 2021
It’s tempting, isn’t it? Also it would be amazing to see CP3 finally in a Lakers uni after the vetoed trade in 2011 that would have sent Paul to join Kobe Bryant.
Paul could go East, but the path isn’t much easier with the loaded Brooklyn Nets, a Philadelphia 76ers team that could be a contender with or without a Ben Simmons trade and, oh yeah, the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.
So, yeah. It should be quite the offseason for Paul. If it’s me? I stick with the team that was up 2-0 in the Finals, the one with a coach who I love, with a roster that’s growing up together.
You can bet that decision isn’t going to be that easy.
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