Draymond Green lauds 'genius move' by the Spurs to pair Chris Paul with Victor Wembanyama
Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green believes the San Antonio Spurs did a solid job getting his former teammate Chris Paul to join forces with generational talent Victor Wembanyama at the Alamo, describing it a "genius" move.
'CP3' signed a one-year, $11-million deal with the Spurs earlier this month after spending last season with Green and the Warriors. The 12-time All-Star will be entering his 20th year in the NBA in the 2024-25 season.
Speaking on his podcast, Green touched on the latest development that had Chris Paul landing in San Antonio. He said that while he was sad to see him leave the Warriors, he believes it is going to be a great situation for both the Spurs and the veteran guard.
He said:
"Nonetheless, CP (Chris Paul). Pop (Gregg Popovich) still a genius. Pairing CP with Wemby (Wembanyama) to teach that young fella the way CP one of the greatest vets I've been around, and I just spent a year around him as a vet myself. That's gonna be great for Wemby... And that is a genius move by the Spurs, man."
He added:
"Then for CP, like, you get the opportunity to also to in, what, year 20 I think it is about to be for C, opportunity to go lead the next young face, star in the NBA, that's a great opportunity, too. He get the chance to, in a sense, kinda help mold him.
And like what an honor, because you only get that if you've been as great as CP has and as respected as CP is. That's the only way you get that opportunity."
In his lone season with the Warriors, Paul played 58 games, splitting time as a starter and off the bench. He averaged 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 27 minutes of play.
Golden State finished with a 46-36 record, good for 10th in the Western Conference, but failed to advance beyond the play-in phase.
Chris Paul cites opportunity to play as reason for signing with Spurs
At 39 years old, Chris Paul believes he still has a lot of basketball left in him, which was the reason he decided to sign with the San Antonio Spurs for the 2024-25 season.
The veteran was introduced as a member of the Spurs in a press conference on Tuesday. He agreed to a one-year, $11-million deal to play alongside rising superstar Victor Wembanyama and under multi-titled coach Gregg Popovich for his 20th year in the NBA.
"I love nothing more than the opportunity to play and contribute and hoop," Paul said. "My family is everything. My wife is here, my kids are back in L.A., and that's where they will be during the season. And I love basketball so much that I could be close to home, but if I'm not playing, I'm not happy."
At San Antonio, Chris Paul will be tasked to provide leadership and stability to a team that finished with a 22-60 record last season.
The team, however, has found a solid cornerstone in reigning Rookie of the Year Wembanyama, who had stellar numbers of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals in his first year.