
The Los Angeles Clippers can pay point guard Chris Paul more than any other team can this summer; they can give him a five-year contract worth an estimated $205 million. At this stage in his career, though, Paul might be more intrigued by the prospect of a championship than by signing a huge contract. His quest for that elusive ring could lead him to San Antonio, and the Spurs will make a hard run at him, per ESPN’s Marc Stein:
All-Star point guard Chris Paul intends to give the San Antonio Spurs serious consideration in free agency this summer in the event he decides to leave the LA Clippers, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN that Paul, for all of his undeniable fondness for Los Angeles, is intrigued by the idea of teaming up with the likes of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and MVP top-three finalist Kawhi Leonard in his quest to achieve the deep playoff success that has eluded Paul to this point in his career.
Free agency is still a month away, but sources say the Clippers already have begun contemplating roster and organizational changes aimed at convincing Paul ?to re-sign after he declines to exercise his player option, as expected.
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The Spurs, sources say, are increasingly considered a lock to at least secure a face-to-face meeting with Paul when free agency begins July 1, despite the fact San Antonio would almost certainly have to sacrifice considerable roster depth to make him a representative contract offer.
As daunting as some of the moves are that San Antonio would have to consider to create the requisite salary-cap space to aggressively pursue Paul, one source said of the Spurs’ interest in the veteran floor leader: “They love him.”
The Spurs had the best defense in basketball this season. Replace Tony Parker with Chris Paul, and that defense becomes far better. Plus, the thought of a player of Paul’s caliber under Gregg Popovich is scary. Paul’s an exceptional decision-maker with an extremely diverse offensive skillset; his midrange jumper is as good as anybody’s, he’s a phenomenal passer, he can finish at the rim, he can shoot from deep – the list goes on.
Does Chris Paul put San Antonio over the Warriors? Maybe not, but it probably makes them firmly the second-best team in the world.