Chris Paul is expected to be on his way out of the San Antonio Spurs this season. After a solid season, playing 82 games for the side, Paul will find himself testing the waters of free agency. Although he has garnered some attention from familiar teams on the market, a league insider expects the Dallas Mavericks to emerge as a likely landing spot for the veteran point guard.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus reported on this potential move recently and wrote:
“San Antonio may want Paul back because of who he is and what he’s capable of doing, but with De’Aaron Fox, rookie of the year Stephon Castle and guard Dylan Harper (the Spurs’ presumed No. 2 overall pick), the veteran may choose a team giving him a greater opportunity to play.”
“While he has strong ties to Los Angeles (Lakers and Clippers), where his family has lived (don’t count them out), he may go to a team with an injured starting point guard.”
Paul had a fairly commendable season with the Spurs. At 40 years old, the veteran point guard masterfully orchestrated San Antonio’s offense, putting up an average of 8.8 points and 7.4 assists on shooting splits of 42.7% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range.
Paul’s impact on the Spurs, however, was negligible, considering that the team focused on the development of ROTY Stephon Castle. Regardless, the team benefited from his contributions in a limited capacity.
While the 40-year-old may still be wanted in San Antonio, the expected landscape of the team’s young backcourt may not see Paul receive the minutes he wants. With this in mind, Pincus noted that the veteran guard is likely to seek opportunities elsewhere.
The primary link in this context has been Los Angeles. Having carved out a name for himself in the city during his stint with the Clippers, Paul hopes to return to LA to be closer to his family. This has seen him linked with both Los Angeles franchises in trade rumors.
Pincus’ report does create an interesting outlook for Paul’s upcoming time in free agency. The Dallas Mavericks could certainly benefit from signing a playmaking veteran of Paul’s capabilities.
With Kyrie Irving out of the rotation until January next year, the team is in dire need of a starting point guard. The notion of pairing Paul with a dominant big man like Anthony Davis would also be an exciting one for Dallas’ front office.
Most importantly, with the Mavs likely to draft Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, Dallas would hope to have a seasoned veteran like Paul mentor their future superstar.
Many opportunities await Paul, especially considering the number of teams in need of playmakers. Although his wishes may see him tied to Los Angeles, the 12x All-Star may find more meaningful work in Dallas.
