The Golden State Warriors have had a poor start to the 2023-24 NBA season, sitting below .500 with a 7-9 record. Among all the things that have gone wrong for Golden State, the one thing that seems to be working is Chris Paul‘s presence. The 38-year-old backup guard is on an overpriced $30 million contract this season but could get an extension from Golden State for the right price, according to HoopsHype.
“Golden State has been pleased with Paul’s production and fit with the team and is open to keeping him beyond this season for the right price.”
CP3 is averaging 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists so far this season. He has floated through the starting lineup and bench based on injuries and suspensions but seems to be the ideal sixth man for the Warriors. He provides off-the-bench stability that the box scores can’t reflect.
No intangible impact could replace production though, so Paul definitely can’t expect to get the $30 million he’s on right now from the Warriors again. But a contract around $10 million may be a price Paul thinks is fair and something the Warriors will be willing to pay for his leadership as well as point-guard play.
Should The Warriors Keep Chris Paul?
Personally speaking, the Chris Paul move hasn’t moved the needle for the Warriors. While his higher-IQ play has helped the team be less turnover-prone, the loss of instant offense from Jordan Poole has tanked the team’s record. They weren’t a great team last season and somehow look to have taken a step back this year. Just because Paul’s production has been average doesn’t mean that Paul is immune from blame for their slow start.
His offense has tanked heavily as he has aged in the NBA, unable to score consistently from the field or three. He’s shooting 39.1% from the field and 32.8% from the three this year, numbers that are really below the mark for a point guard. The Warriors need to refocus on adding more scoring depth around Stephen Curry, and Paul isn’t that.
Converting Paul’s $30 million to a $10 million contract allows them to keep continuity while reducing their luxury tax bill. Most people would argue for Paul to be traded, but the incoming salary of a star player such as Pascal Siakam will be something the Warriors are committed long-term to.
If they want to continue pushing for a title, they can’t afford to let Paul go as he cannot be replaced due to salary issues. But if they trade Paul, they can get another long-term contract on the books to move forward with their contention window. That’ll come down to the stomach if the Warriors owners and whether they’ll be willing to continue paying the tax to keep this group together.
Klay Thompson could be the odd man out, necessitating a bigger contract extension offer than Paul’s but no one will be knocking on his door right now with his start to the season. He’s likely safe in a trade, but the Warriors have to move toward contention before their window is open, and replacing Klay may be more on their mind than replacing CP3.
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