Right after being released by the Golden State Warriors, Chris Paul found a new destination: the San Antonio Spurs.
So, why did Paul choose to move to the San Antonio Spurs, the team with the worst record in the Western Conference for the 2023/24 season? What can he bring to the AT&T Center team?
Chris Paul’s Contract with the San Antonio Spurs
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Chris Paul signed a one-year contract worth over $11 million with the Spurs. This deal will push CP3’s total NBA salary past $389 million by the end of the 2024/25 season.
What Will Chris Paul Bring to the Spurs?
Chris Paul is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and this is a position that the Spurs are currently lacking. The Spurs are building their team around Victor Wembanyama but need a ball-handling guard to coordinate with the young French star. Last season, Wembanyama made many intelligent moves, but the Spurs players couldn’t recognize and deliver the ball to the right spot. With Paul, this issue will be resolved.
Last season, Paul averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists in 58 games (starting 18 of them) for the Warriors. Paul suffered a broken hand and had to take time off, but he managed to return towards the end of the season. Although Paul’s statistics don’t seem particularly impressive, his actual contribution to the team goes beyond those numbers. He had five games with double-doubles and 11 games with more than 10 assists. These numbers could increase as Paul will be the primary ball handler for the Spurs.
The Warriors’ failure in the Play-In ended Paul’s 13 consecutive playoff appearances. The Spurs are in a rebuilding phase, so Paul will take on a similar role as he did in the 2019/20 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, serving as a leader and guiding young talents. The core of the Spurs is Wembanyama, and the French center will benefit greatly from playing alongside Paul. The former Warriors star is recognized as one of the best passers in NBA history, and playing with him will help Wembanyama improve both his stats and basketball IQ.
Not only Wembanyama, but the presence of Chris Paul will also greatly benefit Stephon Castle, the rookie guard selected by the Spurs with the 4th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Castle, 19 years old, is a 1.98m tall guard with a lot of potential. Playing alongside and learning from one of the greatest point guards in NBA history is a great opportunity for Castle’s career. Besides Castle, players like Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell will also improve if they play alongside Paul.
Even with the addition of Paul, it is still too early for the Spurs to think about competing in the Western Conference. However, with the arrival of CP3, the Spurs’ rebuilding process could accelerate. His experience will help the young Spurs team make rapid progress, especially Wembanyama. The Spurs might even aim for a Play-In spot next season instead of finishing at the bottom of the standings like last season.
