The New York Knicks were one of the most pleasant surprises of the season but it was clear that they needed a starting-caliber point guard to become a legit threat in the playoffs.
That’s why they’re reportedly looking forward to signing Chris Paul in the offseason, hoping he’ll work his magic the same way he did with the Phoenix Suns.
And, according to Ian Begley of SNY, there’s a strong belief around the league that Paul could take his talents to the Madison Square Garden if he doesn’t reach an agreement with the Suns:
“As you’d expect, Paul’s name has come up internally as one of the players the Knicks could target at point guard this summer. And if Paul and Phoenix can’t reach an agreement, the Knicks certainly will have the cap space to make him a multi-year offer,” reported Begley.
“Several agents for point guards in the 2021 free agent class fear New York as a possible landing spot for Paul. Leon Rose was Paul’s agent before Rose became the Knicks president. But, again, New York would only be an option for Paul if he and Phoenix didn’t reach an agreement,” he added.
The Suns have plenty of reasons to give Chris Paul the three-year extension he’s reportedly looking for. But, if they’re dubious about keeping a player through his 38-year-old age season on the books, he could decline his player option.
While injuries will always be a concern with Paul, there’s no doubt that his impact on the court is nearly the same it was 16 years ago when he made it to the league.
Adding a top-tier playmaker and outstanding backcourt defender such as Paul would do wonders for Tom Thibodeau’s team, so we’ll definitely keep an eye on this story over the next couple of months.
