He holds career averages of 17.9 points, 9.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. Phoenix’s season ended with a 125-100 Game 6 blowout loss to Denver in the Western Conference semifinals.įollowing the exit, coach Monty Williams was fired and replaced with Frank Vogel, who joined the team Friday.Ī 12-time All-Star and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, Paul averaged a career-low 13.9 points to go along with 8.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game in 59 contests last season. This postseason, he missed the final four games of the Suns’ playoff run as he dealt with a groin injury. Paul, 38, spent the past three years with Phoenix, helping lead the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals. Doing so would cut $8.8 million from the Suns’ cap sheet. Meanwhile, even leaking this possibility likely robs the Suns of any leverage in a potential Paul trade.įinally, if the Suns wanted to clear room below the luxury tax aprons and were unable to put together trades involving Paul or Deandre Ayton, a better alternative would be to waive Landry Shamet and use the stretch provision to spread his $10.2 million salary over seven years. Moreover, even at his advanced age, Paul has a BORD$ projection for 2023-24 that has him worth $36.8 million - making his contract a net value for the Suns and making it seem even more perplexing that they might cut it. The Suns could use their non-taxpayer midlevel exception and biannual exception but would be unlikely to find players anywhere near as good as Paul in those salary slots. Waiving Paul and using the stretch provision on him would still leave the Suns above the salary cap, and with just five players under contract for next season. The one thing that is crystal clear is that waiving Paul would make absolutely no sense the Suns would end up paying him $15.8 million to play for the Lakers and wouldn’t generate enough cap room to sign anyone better. Those qualities won’t be easy to replace. After Paul injured his groin in the semifinals, the Suns missed his leadership and presence.
If Phoenix cannot trade him, waiving and re-signing him makes sense, provided Paul is willing to take less money. But he still can help the Suns (or any other contender). And with his body breaking down in the postseason, there are legit questions about his dependability. That’s what’s not going to change, my knowledge of the game, and I’m going to keep putting in the work.” I don’t talk about it too much, but I know this game just about better than anybody. “I remember when the games ended in 85-80 scores. “I’ve been in this NBA a lot longer than some of the people who have been covering it,’’ Paul said. Earlier, Paul had made it clear that his career is not over.
As assistant coaches chatted at one end, Paul grabbed a basketball and started his typical workout. The last Phoenix media saw of Paul came the day after the Suns were eliminated in the conference semifinals, during player exit interviews at the organization’s practice facility. The Athletic’s instant analysis: How Suns, Paul got here The Suns have a June 28 guarantee deadline on Paul’s $30.8 million contract. Official release: Suns | Nets | Bucks | PacersĬlippers add Plumlee via trade with Hornets (Feb.The Suns had initial discussions Wednesday with Paul’s agent, Steven Heumann of CAA Sports, and explained that they would be exploring all options.īleacher Report first reported the news that the Suns reached out to Paul about their plans.
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