Chris Paul has been a prime trade candidate since he became a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder (July 2019). The upcoming offseason appears to be no different.
In an appearance on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Royce Young mentioned the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, and Milwaukee Bucks as “the most likely destinations” via trade for Chris Paul.
“I look at three teams,” Young said when asked where Chris Paul could get traded. “Bobby knows better than me, but I look at three teams as the most likely destinations: Philly, the Knicks, and Milwaukee. Those are the three teams that I think are logical places.”
There have been congruent reports about these teams pursing a trade for the veteran point guard.
Chris Paul averaged 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, five rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from beyond the arc in the 2019-20 NBA regular season. In the Thunder’s seven-game, first-round series loss to the Houston Rockets, he averaged 21.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Here’s how the three teams reportedly set to pursue a trade for Chris Paul stack up in terms of fit.
3) Philadelphia 76ers
The signature aspect of Paul’s potential arrival in Philly is his fit with star big man Joel Embiid.
Embiid plays inside and out interchangeably and is as talented as any big man in the NBA. Ben Simmons, Embiid’s should-be co-star mate, has a skill set that doesn’t bode well with Embiid, specifically in reference to his inability to stretch the floor. Chris Paul is a superb mid-range shooter who’s adept at making jump shots from distance at a considerable rate. The two are also half-court players, whereas Simmons is more of a fastbreak player who relies on his speed for buckets.
All that said, acquiring Chris Paul would be a rash move for Philly. For starters, what do the 76ers have that would pique Oklahoma City’s interest? Is Philly going to move Simmons, the 2016 number-one draft pick and an immensely talented ball handler, for a player on the back nine? If not, who would the Thunder want, Tobias Harris or Al Horford?
If the 76ers want to trade Simmons, they’d be wise to look for another talented youngster or two on a rookie deal and/or draft capital. Chris Paul doesn’t fit the bill.
2) New York Knicks
Chris Paul’s skill set is precisely what the Knicks need in their backcourt: shooting and a floor general to set up others.
RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson are the heart and soul of New York’s rebuild; Paul would enhance both of their games. Barrett was an inefficient shooter in his rookie season, rather he mostly attacked the rack and played in isolation. Having a proven outside shooter in Chris Paul alongside the Duke product would make for a complementary backcourt. Meanwhile, Paul would draw double-teams, potentially opening up Robinson for easy buckets inside.
Chris Paul’s presence would also force the Knicks to give a handful of young players big-time minutes, as he’s due roughly $85.6 million over the next two seasons, taking up most of the team’s spending ability. New York has a bevy of prospects that could pique Oklahoma City’s interest, including six first-round draft selections over the next three drafts and former first rounders Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, and Dennis Smith Jr. All that said, how is trading assets for a 35-year-old stopgap the Knicks’ best option?
They could draft a point guard with the eighth pick in the NBA Draft or take one with their second first rounder (27) and have that player split time with Ntilikina. The Knicks could also pursue a guard in free agency such as Fred VanVleet or Jordan Clarkson.
1) Milwaukee Bucks
Let’s be honest: the Bucks are trying to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo, a free agent after next season, to stay for the long haul, and they’re going to consider making a bold move this offseason. Chris Paul is a worthwhile gamble.
Eric Bledsoe is an underrated two-way player. That said, he’s a moderate at best shooter. Bigger than that, Antetokounmpo continues to be a below-average shooter; he shot 30.4 percent from beyond the arc in the regular season and 32.5 percent from said distance in the playoffs. This was one of the elements that contributed to the Bucks’ disappointing — and rather convincing — second-round series loss to the Miami Heat. They need as much shooting besides the Greek Freak as possible; when a second defender comes over to defend him in isolation, it opens someone up, which can be another capable shooter.
Khris Middleton is one of the elite scoring shooters in the NBA, and George Hill is a reliable veteran; they’re not enough. As a whole, the Bucks were 18th in the NBA this season in three-point shooting percentage (35.5 percent). They shot 35.8 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs.
Executing a trade is a bit complex, as the Bucks would have to find a way to match salaries while offering something of value to Oklahoma City; this is likely a three-team deal. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the Bucks have to break through with this core. Chris Paul brings tenacity on both ends of the floor and an upgrade at the point.
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September 11, 2020 at 11:44AM
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Ranking reported Chris Paul trade suitors based on fit - ClutchPoints
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