NBA Free Agency 2018: 20 best players available

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 24: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2018 at the Toyota Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Chris Paul

Chris Paul, the Point God, the archetype of the pure point guard made flesh, while far from the flashiest or most exciting court general in the league at the moment, can still run an offense as well as anyone and has yet to show any signs of decline. Last season, his thirteenth in the league, there was much concern entering the season about how he would coexist with James Harden – another ball dominant guard – but all those worries were pretty much proven unfounded as the Rockets earned the best record in the NBA and were one Chris Paul hamstring injury away from potentially winning an NBA Championship. While Harden is the presumptive MVP, leading the Rockets in both points and assists, Paul provided Harden with an excellent counterpoint as they played well both together and separately, while leading the offense themselves with the other on the bench.

Honestly, Chris Paul is somehow still a bit underrated. He has the highest career win shares per 48 minutes in NBA history, and even last year, as a secondary player, had the third highest WS/48 in the league. He should have been MVP in 2008 and is the only reason he is not held in higher esteem is due to a series of bad luck in the Playoffs, of which his hamstring injury is only the latest example. Paul will make any team better, providing a stability and intelligence that should be the envy of pretty much every other point guard in the league.

Much like Durant, there is little expectation of Chris Paul moving this offseason. It is unlikely that the Rockets would have traded for Chris Paul last offseason without some sort of assurance – or at least a good amount of confidence – that Paul would resign with them this offseason. And it also seems unlikely, considering the success the Rockets had last season, that Paul would even want to go elsewhere. Truly, it’s hard to imagine a better situation for him at this stage in his career.

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