Entering the 2021 offseason, the future 36-year-old Chris Paul was under much doubt. With questions remaining about how much he has left in the tank, and rumors that he was seeking a near-max deal, there was no consensus among the community on where he was going next.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, however, he might not be going anywhere at all.
Chris Paul appears all but destined to return to Phoenix, sources said, on a deal that’s now widely rumored to be for at least three years, $90 million.
While rumors of his possible connection to the Lakers persist, it remains an unlikelihood that he ends up with the Purple and Gold.
But Paul finding his way out of Phoenix, and particularly to Los Angeles, always seemed unlikely because of salary-cap complications, plus a long rivalry between the Suns and Lakers. When Steve Nash joined L.A. in 2012, Sarver’s front office demanded the deal become a sign-and-trade that sent two future first-round picks back to the Suns.
After going for nearly a decade without a single playoff appearance, the Suns finally hit a breaking point this past season, making the NBA Finals behind the brilliance and leadership of Paul.
Unfortunately, CP3 had a pretty rough series and got criticized in the days following their defeat.
The Suns seem willing to bring Paul back, but one has to question if that’s really the right decision. This summer, Paul will be looking for a multi-year, $90+ million deal.
That’s a lot to pay for a veteran point guard who is past his prime.
Nevertheless, he has proven his worth so far.
