NBA Free Agency 2017: 20 best players available
By John Buhler
Chris Paul
Point Guard, Los Angeles Clippers
Will Chris Paul leave the Los Angeles Clippers? Though he would be leaving an absurd amount of money he mostly bargained for as the Players’ Association president, Paul will opt out of his deal with Los Angeles by exercising his early termination clause to be an unrestricted free agent.
People in his camp have articulated that he will meet with four teams including the Clippers. While the San Antonio Spurs meeting is obvious for ring reasons, Paul will also take meetings with the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets. Houston isn’t a great fit, but Denver is an intriguing one, especially since center Nikola Jokic is an emerging star.
Frankly, Paul has more leverage over one team than anybody not named LeBron James. He can and certainly will flex that over Steve Ballmer’s Clippers. Though it will likely come down to money, Paul could pivot and go to other winning situations like with the Miami Heat or the Milwaukee Bucks.
Paul is 32-years old, but is a nine-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA player and the best player in the game today without a championship ring. Could he be taking his career 18.7 points, 9.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game elsewhere? Possibly, but money talks with this one. However, it is time for Paul to honestly examine what his NBA legacy will be. Is he more John Stockton or Isiah Thomas?