20 things to look forward to this NBA offseason

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) reacts to a call during the championship game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the USC Trojans and the Arizona Wildcats on March 10, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 24: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets reacts against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter of Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

3. Will the Rockets give Chris Paul a five-year max?

After falling just shy of knocking off the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, the Houston Rockets now face a series of potential landmines this offseason.

Chief among them is Chris Paul’s new contract.

The Rockets should be delighted with the early returns from Paul after they acquired him via a stunning trade last June. He gave them an enormous lift alongside James Harden, and had he not injured his hamstring at the end of Game 5 against the Warriors, there’s a real chance Houston would have been this year’s champion.

That doesn’t make his upcoming contract negotiations any easier, though. If the Rockets offer him a five-year, $200 million-plus max deal, they’ll be paying him north of $45 million annually as he heads into his late 30s.

“Chris Paul didn’t turn down $200 million from the Clippers because he thought that somehow the Rockets were gonna talk him into saving them luxury-tax money,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said during a recent episode of The Woj Pod (via Complex’s Gavin Evans). “I don’t imagine it playing out that way.”

Wojnarowski said the Rockets have already made peace with the potential long-term ramifications of such a deal, as the opportunity to contend for a championship now outweighs those concerns for them. One can’t help but wonder if they’ll grow to regret offering Paul a five-year max a few years down the road, though, particularly if they don’t get at least one championship ring out of it.

Next: 2. Is Paul George headed to L.A.?

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