How a massive contract and advancing age make a Chris Paul trade unrealistic for Phoenix Suns
Chris Paul was traded by the OKC Thunder to the Phoenix Suns in 2020. At the time, Paul was under contract with the Houston Rockets, which he had signed in 2018. His salary was provided by the Rockets in his first season with the Suns. "CP3" made the last $41.35 million of his $159.73 million contract with Houston.
Since Paul's arrival in Phoenix, he immediately helped Devin Booker and Co. finish second in the West. "The Point God" proved to be a vital piece in the Suns' quest to win their first NBA title. As a result, Phoenix awarded Paul a four-year contract worth $120 million. The question now is, was it worth it?
Can Phoenix Suns let go of Chris Paul?
Chris Paul signed his four-year contract with the Phoenix Suns in the 2021-22 NBA season. Paul was already 36 at the time, which means that his performance as a player will soon slow down. True enough, signs of father time are now catching up to him. This season, he's only averaging 12.3 points, 9.1 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
Without a doubt, Paul is still one of the best point guards in the league. However, Paul is clearly slowing down on the court, and the trend is only likely to continue. Honestly, the legendary point guard is nowhere near his buddy LeBron James in terms of durability. LBJ has proven every year that he can play like he's still in his prime, unlike Paul.
Considering these factors, the Suns may want to consider trading him for much younger talent. Looking at how Phoenix has been playing this year, next season might be a good time for a rebuild. Unfortunately, their hopes of getting rid of their star point guard might be a bit more difficult than it should have been.
When the 2023-24 season commences, Chris Paul will be 38. Most NBA teams don't usually sign or even trade for older players. The only chance of that happening is if the old veterans are either still as good as LeBron James or at least willing to take a minimum contract. Unfortunately, Paul's value as a player might be too high for other teams to take.