Throughout his 20 seasons, Chris Paul has been a member of seven different teams.
Despite being 39 years old, Paul is yet to miss a game this season for the San Antonio Spurs. He is currently on a one-year, $11 million contract that expires after this season.
As Paul’s career goes on, the accolades keep coming. This season, he passed Jason Kidd for second most career assists and steals, trailing John Stockton in both.
In a December interview with Tony Parker, Paul discussed his career’s future, stating, “Maybe a year or two; I’m still trying to feel it out.”
Everyone knows that Paul loves to play and compete, which is why he noted in the interview that coming off the bench was rough, referencing his time last season with the Warriors. If Paul decides to continue his career, he wants to play a significant role and contribute to winning.
After the Spurs acquired their point guard of the future in De’Aaron Fox, it’s likely Paul won’t be on the team next season.
Some teams may not be interested in Paul because his statistics have declined over the last two seasons. However, he still offers valuable veteran leadership and has consistently been available, which could attract the interest of certain teams.
Let’s dive into some of the teams Paul could join for his 21st season and other scenarios that can come about.
Los Angeles Clippers
This may be the best landing spot for Chris Paul, as he spent six seasons with the Clippers during the prime of his career. During that time, he was known as part of “Lob City,” alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
This time around, Paul would team up with former Rockets teammate James Harden and NBA champion Kawhi Leonard. A starting lineup featuring Paul, Harden, Norman Powell, Leonard, and Ivica Zubac seems strong enough to compete in the Western Conference. It would also provide Paul with the opportunity to retire in a familiar city.
Many anticipated that Paul would join the Clippers this past offseason before he ultimately signed with the Spurs, making this a realistic possibility.
Miami Heat
The Heat have been through drama this season (Jimmy Butler).
With Butler’s departure, the team is still striving to remain competitive. However, competing without a point guard is challenging, which is why adding CP3 could be a beneficial move for them.
If Paul joins the team, he will play alongside Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins in the Eastern Conference. Additionally, many young players on the roster could greatly benefit from his mentorship. The combination of Paul and head coach Erik Spoelstra will likely lead this Heat team to success.
However, the No. 3 jersey is retired by the Heat in honor of Dwyane Wade, and Paul has never worn another number throughout his long career.
Phoenix Suns
Paul spent three seasons with the Suns, where he made his only career finals appearance in 2021. This would be another chance for him to return to a familiar city.
With Kevin Durant likely done with the team, Paul would reunite with Devin Booker. Bradley Beal still has his no-trade clause, and it seems like he is fine with staying on the Suns. There’s also a chance he could reunite with some Spurs players as there were talks that the Spurs could be one of the teams likely to land Durant.
Even with Phoenix struggling this season, Paul’s move to the Suns would be his last chance at a ring.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have been one of the most surprising teams this season.
They rank among the top teams in the Western Conference, but they may struggle in the playoffs due to a lack of experience. The Point God could play a pivotal role in their development.
As one of the youngest teams in the NBA, the Rockets would benefit from Paul’s mentorship while still competing at a high level. He would join rising stars such as Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and Amen Thompson.
Paul previously spent two seasons with the Rockets alongside Harden, where they aimed for a finals run but fell short after Paul suffered an injury and missed several games, eventually getting traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Perhaps this time things would be different.
San Antonio Spurs
There is always a chance that Chris Paul may re-sign with San Antonio. However, due to the addition of De’Aaron Fox and the emergence of Stephon Castle, this could mean that he will lose his starting role and reduced playing time.
With a little over a month left in the regular season, the Spurs have already surpassed their win total from last year, largely thanks to Paul’s contribution to the team. Keeping him could be beneficial, but the downside is that he may not be satisfied with his role, which is similar to his experience in Golden State.
With Victor Wembanyama and Gregg Popovich both out for the season, CP3 may want to run it back next season.
Retirement
By the time the next season starts, Paul will be 40 years old. With PJ Tucker being waived by the Raptors, Paul is now the second-oldest player in the league behind LeBron James.
He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and his resume speaks for itself. Paul is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defense, five-time assist leader, six-time steals leader, and the 2006 Rookie of the Year.
Despite not having a championship ring, no one can diminish the legacy of the “Point God.” If he decides to retire at this stage of his career, he will still be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
It seems that Paul is not ready to walk away just yet. However, if he cannot find a role that satisfies him next season, retirement may become the choice he has to make.
Coach Chris Paul?
Chris Paul is considered one of the smartest basketball players in history. His basketball IQ has been a key reason for his successful career, even as an undersized guard.
Recently, it has become more common for retired players to take on coaching roles, as exemplified by J.J. Redick, who is the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Although Paul had previously stated that he had no interest in coaching after his playing career, he has now expressed openness to various opportunities, including coaching and team ownership.
Paul is also looking forward to spending more time with his children. He mentioned the struggle of watching their games on an iPad instead of being there.
If Paul were to take a head coaching position, it would likely not happen for several years. He may start in a front office role, allowing him more time with his family before moving into coaching.
Paul possesses all the qualities needed to be an excellent coach. Throughout his career, he has consistently improved team performance and mentored younger players.
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With his background and experience, Chris Paul has the potential to become one of the best player-turned-coaches the league has ever seen.
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