The San Antonio Spurs and point guard Chris Paul have agreed to a one-year contract worth a little over $11 million, according to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Chris Paul was coveted by multiple teams but ultimately decided to Victor Wembanyama. The Point God was recently waived by the Golden State Warriors before the deadline to pay him $30 million. His decision to join the Spurs at almost a third of that price is shocking to many.
Chris Paul averaged nine points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists last season and shot 37% from distance. Though he may not be the defender he once was, he still averaged a steal per game. His role was diminished in Golden State due to an established pecking order with Steph Curry as the lead guard. In San Antonio, he has an opportunity to show he can do a little more while setting up his teammates better than they've ever had before.
Chris Paul and San Antonio have history but the knockdown dragout battles are long gone and the respect between Coach Gregg Popovich and CP3 is no secret. The two have immense respect for each other, and Paul is the perfect player to make sure the guys stay on track out on the floor. Some fans will have trouble with being forced to root for a longtime rival, but once he helps the team win some games, that should be alleviated to some degree.
DeAndre Jordan recently spoke about the type of leader Paul is. He said that Paul is not afraid to get after his teammates and hold them accountable. His desire is for the team to be great, so he tries to draw greatness out of everyone. That guy is perfect for the youngest team in the league, even if he is 39 years old.