NBA Rumors: Clippers taking Spurs pursuit of Chris Paul ‘very seriously’
Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers may be a target for the San Antonio Spurs this offseason. The Clippers reportedly are taking that threat seriously.
Chris Paul is generally considered one of the top point guards in the NBA. Usually as an NBA point guard, you are either a scorer, passer, or high percentage shooter. Paul has consistently demonstrated all three attributes, averaging 18.7 points and 9.9 assists per game on a 47 percent shooting in his career. While those numbers could be considered elite, it hasn’t produced playoff success for the Clippers. The Clippers main nucleus; Paul, Blake Griffin and De’Andre Jordan, have not advanced past the second round in their time together. That’s why many analysts expect for a blow-up of the team.
Paul has a player option for next season and could choose to become a free agent. It’s been speculated that Paul may be setting his sights on the San Antonio Spurs. It’s also been reported that both sides have mutual interest. While that suits Paul well for his career and the Spurs playing style, the Clippers may be in full panic mode.
The Clippers, I'm told, take the threat of a Spurs free-agent pursuit of Chris Paul very seriously despite SA's current lack of cap space.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 26, 2017
The Spurs do the best job in professional sports of priming after-30 athletes. Paul, who just turned 32, still has much left in the tank, but may no longer be the Paul of the late-2000’s, early 2010’s. With the Spurs, Paul’s passing, shooting, and scoring skills will be greatly utilized in head coach Gregg Popovich’s attack. Paul, paired up with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, will keep the Spurs near the top of the West.
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The Spurs are transitioning to a younger team, with Manu Ginobli expected to retire this offseason. So it will be hard for Paul to not consider the Spurs offer if it was to be offered. But it will take a coup by the Clippers to get Paul to stay.