The San Antonio Spurs are expected to search the free agency market for a point guard who can lift the game of talented player Victor Wembanyama without hurting the team’s financial flexibility.
Mark Stein, a long-time NBA insider who previously worked with ESPN and the New York Times, shared some interesting details about the potential targets for the Spurs in his recent newsletter article, including a dream pairing of Victor Wembanyama and future Hall of Famer Chris Paul.
Paul, who just wrapped up a disappointing first season with the Golden State Warriors, is seen as an intriguing target for the Spurs to improve their playmaking next season, according to the veteran NBA insider.
“A potential team to watch, if Chris Paul and the Warriors part ways, is San Antonio,” Stein wrote in the Stein Line Newsletter published on April 20.
“Among the early personnel rumbles in circulation: The Spurs could emerge as a Paul suitor if they decide to pursue some veteran know-how on a short-term contract basis to support presumptive Rookie of the Year winner Victor Wembanyama with more experienced help in Year 2,” Stein added.
The Warriors have until June 28 to fully guarantee the final year of Paul’s contract worth $30 million, per Spotrac. However, many NBA analysts, including Stein, anticipate Golden State to part ways with Paul after the former All-Star point guard again missed a significant number of games with a hand injury.
In 58 games, Paul averaged 9.2 points on 44.1 FG%, 6.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game.
He was also a non-factor in the Warriors’ 118-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament as he tallied just three points and two assists with a -15 plus/minus rating.
The Warriors acquired Paul in a trade with the Washington Wizards in exchange for a package around Jordan Poole on July 6. Two weeks prior, the Suns traded him, Landy Shamet, and multiple picks to the Wizards in exchange for Bradley Beal.
Potential Paul and Wembanyama Pairing
According to Stein, the Spurs could go after Paul once he hits the free agency market this summer and sign him on a short-term deal.
The Spurs’ projected practical cap space for this summer is estimated at $24.8 million per Spotrac, giving them the room to pursue players valued below the max-salary territory.Paul may not put up the same numbers he had during his prime. However, his mentorship and playmaking will be valuable for the development of Wembanyama, who needed a crafty playmaker next to him to reach his full potential.CP3 a potential game-changer for the Spurs
Before his time in Golden State, Paul was known for transforming teams he joined into playoff contenders with his leadership and passing skills.
The New Orleans Hornets, the team that drafted him fourth overall in 2005, became a perennial playoff contender in the late 2000s.
The Los Angeles Clippers also became a contender upon his arrival in 2011.
The Houston Rockets also challenged the Warriors during his three years with the team. Paul also spent one season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and took the team to the playoffs while mentoring a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Paul had his best chance of winning a championship with the Phoenix Suns, making his first and only appearance in the finals but unfortunately losing to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
While the Spurs would definitely consider other options to pair Wembanyama with a real All-Star point guard
, Paul presents an interesting choice for a team eager to make an impact in the second year of the Wemby era.
The San Antonio Spurs are expected to search the free agency market for the point guard who can enhance the game of talented Victor Wembanyama without compromising the team’s financial flexibility moving forward.Mark Stein, a veteran NBA insider who previously worked with ESPN and the New York Times, revealed several […] a legitimate All-Star point guard, Paul presents an intriguing option for a franchise eager to make some noise in year 2 of the Wemby era.
