Chris Paul was so sensational in Game 7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Round One Series … [+]
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At 35, Chris Paul became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double in Game 7 on Wednesday, as the Oklahoma City Thunder were narrowly eliminated against the Houston Rockets.
It was a season of rebirth and revitalization for CP3, who have only lost two games for the entire season, averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 assists per game with 48.9% of shots and made the All-Star game for the first time since the 2015-2016 season. It was a season where the Thunder was supposed to reset and rebuild after a summer where Paul George was traded to the LA Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and five first round choices and Russell Westbrook was sent to Houston for Paul and two first round players. But built around Paul, SGA, Dennis Schroder, Steven Adams and post-season hit star Lu Dort, the OKC has brought Houston to the brink of Western Conference fifth seed.
When we spoke in July, Paul credited a new plant-based diet that he truly embraced last summer not only improved performance on the court, but also improved quality of life. He felt less aches and pains in his joints and less wear and tear on his body, which could bode well for him in the long run with the Thunder. OKC will need Paul to be excellent, because his salary is astronomically high. He will earn $ 41.35 million in 2020-2021 and has a $ 44.21 million player option for 2021-2022 that he would be foolish not to exercise.
Which brings us to the point of this column. How long will Paul be this good? With Gallinari a free agent and with Adams and Schroder’s contracts expiring next summer, Thunder general manager Sam Presti wants to take this team back or try to dismantle things and build around Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Darius Bazley and a boat full of draft? choices and future space cap?
An early exit for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee Bucks could spark interest in acquisition … [+]
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There may be some desperate contenders who have just seen Paul’s playoff performance and they may see it as the missing piece that could put them over the top. The Milwaukee Bucks may be hiring a creator and facilitator alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, and they may have to make a major move to try and get Giannis to stay long-term. Maybe CP3 is the answer.
If Ben Simmons is no longer downtown Philadelphia on a permanent basis, are the Sixers calling Presti and trying to come up with something? Could Paul be the third Nets star alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving under new manager Steve Nash?
Oklahoma City was a funny story in 2019-2020, and Chris Paul was one of the main reasons why. But it may be time for Presti to trade CP3 now and cash in before Father Time inevitably catches up.
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