Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns held a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, and two more wins would’ve sealed Paul’s, and Phoenix’s, first ring.
This was Paul’s first trip to the NBA Finals in his 16-year career, as injuries usually prevented him to reach this series on his former teams.
However, Paul and the Suns were outclassed by the Milwaukee Bucks in the final four games of the series; Phoenix had no answer for Milwaukee’s dominant size combined with an efficient scoring touch at the rim.
Looking ahead at Paul’s future, he has one more year left on his four-year deal before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
But that one year is a player option worth over $44 million. If Paul decides to opt out, NBA legend Magic Johnson wants LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on the phone immediately:
If Chris Paul opts out of his contract with the Suns, his first call should be from his best friend LeBron James and the Lakers.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 21, 2021
However, as promising as a trio of James, Paul and Anthony Davis sounds, this scenario is highly unlikely.
If Paul opts out of that enormous deal, he won’t get anywhere near the same amount with the Lakers. He’d have to sacrifice around $30 million for a chance to play with James and Davis in order to win his first ring.
Paul, who can hunt for his own shot or exploit defenders to find teammates with nifty passes, is the exact type of player the Lakers need to run the point.
But even if he opts out, a report from earlier in the season indicated Paul intends to opt out so he can sign a large multiyear deal with Phoenix in the range of $100 million over three years.
Los Angeles can offer a chance at a ring, but it can’t compete with other teams from a financial standpoint.
Loading...
