Marketed by the Thunder, Chris Paul is looking for a title contender who will want his services. Good thing, the Clippers are looking for a leader – but it will take a heavy price to bring CP3 back to the city of angels.
What if Chris Paul returns to the Clippers? After all, Dwight Howard has had a smashing comeback with the Lakers, and many players return to franchises they’ve played for in the past. And in the case of CP3, it clearly makes sense to everyone.
In the twilight of his career, the Thunder point guard is desperately chasing a ring, and like Derrick Rose, he wants to play for a contender who will give him that chance.
Message well received from the Clippers, who are in dire need of a leader – Kawhi Leonard has also said privately that it was the priority of the summer in his eyes. As for OKC, Sam Presti is looking to rebuild, and getting rid of Chris Paul’s big contract is high on his pile of files. In short, everything is there.
Now it’s time to find the right package, and that’s where it gets tough. To absorb Paul’s astronomical salary, the Clippers would have to work hard. The NBA Analysis Network investigated the situation, and here is the package that could be offered for doing business with the Thunder:
- Patrick Beverley
- Lou Williams
- Rodney McGruder
- Ivica Zubac (or JaMychal Green if he activates his option)
The question is simple: is the game worth the candle? For the Clipps, the answer is yes, even if it would become urgent to recruit in the domestic sector, possibly in the free agent market. But for the Thunder, it’s a whole different story …
Sam Presti is looking for young players with potential or picks, and in this package there, he does not find any, with the possible exception of Zubac who shows some limits despite everything. Suffice to say that when choosing a trading partner, not sure that the franchise in Los Angeles will be privileged again, a year after the Paul George deal.
Chris Paul would very likely welcome a return to the Clippers, but not sure that the latter have anything to tip the heart of the Thunder. A file all the same to watch.
