Knicks · Yahoo: “Rumblings” Chris Paul has interest in San Antonio Spurs (page 1)

We were robbed of the chance to see exactly how the San Antonio Spurs match up with the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game series, and you can direct your blame at Zaza Pachulia. But even if Kawhi Leonard were healthy, San Antonio could use another distributor and shot creator on the perimeter, someone to replace what Tony Parker used to bring them.

How about Chris Paul?

That rumor has been circulating for a while, that the Clippers’ free agent guard wants to win and sees a path to a ring through Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. ESPN’s well-connected Zach Lowe confirmed that during a recent Lowe Post Podcast.

“There’s been a lot of rumblings about Chris Paul, and I think that’s real,” Lowe says. “I think there’s mutual interest there. I don’t know how real it is given the Clippers can offer a gigantic amount of money and are also a really good team; and the Spurs, like I said, have no sort of cap flexibility to get there. I’m very curious about what they do this summer and who’s on the team next year.”
It’s easy to see the logic of a path to winning there, and it’s easy to understand why the Spurs would want to go this route. CP3 is the best floor general in the game, he can shoot the three, and he’s still a strong defender at the position. Go to the Spurs and he makes bigs like LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol look better, he gets rest for his aging body, and he gets to chase a ring.

Don’t bet on it happening, however, and the reason is money.

Paul was head of the players’ union during the negotiation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that kicks in July 1 and a new provision in that CBA is that the over 36 rule — limiting max contracts for guys who turned 36 during the deal — will become the over 38 rule. Why? Because it gives Chris Paul one more five-year max contract from the Clippers. Are you going to go through all the hassle of changing the CBA then walk away from that money?

The only way San Antonio could get near max cap space would be to shed the salaries of Pau Gasol — $16 million next season, and he has said he’s opting in — and Tony Parker, plus just let Patty Mills walk as well as guys likeDewayne Dedmon. The Spurs may be willing to do this, but to trade Gasol and bring no salary back is going to require serious sweeteners in the deal (picks or young players). And it would be very un-Spurs to coldly let Tony Parker go for a cap-space move — Popovich is not Bill Belichick.

In reality, the Spurs would need to get CP3 to take less, and I’m not sold he will do that. Paul will take the meeting, he will talk to a number of teams this summer, but in the end expect him to take the payday and re-sign with the Clippers (maybe giving himself an opt-out after three or four years in case he then wants to ring chase elsewhere).

When you have melo, CP3, and KP on your roster, good veterans sign on for min, just to have a shot at a title.

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

Vmart wrote:I always though CP3 was good but a bit overrated.

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

I would say the Spurs are at least as good as GSW with Paul (assuming Kawhi returns healthy).

Agree, they were holding their own against GS before Leonard got hurt. Even without their starting PG for the series.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

I would say the Spurs are at least as good as GSW with Paul (assuming Kawhi returns healthy).

Spirs +Paul maybe better than GSW at the top. GSW has more quality depth though

GustavBahler wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

I would say the Spurs are at least as good as GSW with Paul (assuming Kawhi returns healthy).

Agree, they were holding their own against GS before Leonard got hurt. Even without their starting PG for the series.

I don't know what you guys were watching. I saw a GS team that started out slowly they were missing shots and it really had nothing to do with Spurs or Kawai. They weee fighting off rust from extended layoff. As soon as they got their wind back they went on a massive run.

Paul is a good player but give me Parker championship pedigree any day of the week.

meloshouldgo wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

I would say the Spurs are at least as good as GSW with Paul (assuming Kawhi returns healthy).

Spirs +Paul maybe better than GSW at the top. GSW has more quality depth though

If Parker comes back, he would move to the bench (Mills is probably gone) Spurs would have two future HOF PGs (one for each unit) who can still ball. Im sure they would get the most out of their bench. And there is always the vets chasing rings. That would be a team to gamble on, with the addition of Paul. Paul cant ask to get paid though, has to be mostly about the ring.

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

I would say the Spurs are at least as good as GSW with Paul (assuming Kawhi returns healthy).

Agree, they were holding their own against GS before Leonard got hurt. Even without their starting PG for the series.

I don't know what you guys were watching. I saw a GS team that started out slowly they were missing shots and it really had nothing to do with Spurs or Kawai. They weee fighting off rust from extended layoff. As soon as they got their wind back they went on a massive run.

Paul is a good player but give me Parker championship pedigree any day of the week.

I was watching the score, what were you watching?

GustavBahler wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

I would say the Spurs are at least as good as GSW with Paul (assuming Kawhi returns healthy).

Agree, they were holding their own against GS before Leonard got hurt. Even without their starting PG for the series.

I don't know what you guys were watching. I saw a GS team that started out slowly they were missing shots and it really had nothing to do with Spurs or Kawai. They weee fighting off rust from extended layoff. As soon as they got their wind back they went on a massive run.

Paul is a good player but give me Parker championship pedigree any day of the week.

I was watching the score, what were you watching?

I was watching GS miss shot they normally make. Those were pretty much the same shots they made later through out the series.

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

I would say the Spurs are at least as good as GSW with Paul (assuming Kawhi returns healthy).

Agree, they were holding their own against GS before Leonard got hurt. Even without their starting PG for the series.

I don't know what you guys were watching. I saw a GS team that started out slowly they were missing shots and it really had nothing to do with Spurs or Kawai. They weee fighting off rust from extended layoff. As soon as they got their wind back they went on a massive run.

Paul is a good player but give me Parker championship pedigree any day of the week.

I was watching the score, what were you watching?

I was watching GS miss shot they normally make. Those were pretty much the same shots they made later through out the series.

And none of it had to do with the Spurs D? You're going to have a hard time convincing me that it was just a coincidence that the Spurs collapsed right after Kawhi got hurt. You also give short thrift to the fact that the Spurs were ready for them, and GS wasn't. Wether or not the layoff is a legitimate factor, if it was indeed rust, its a vulnerability that can be exploited. And who would be better able to exploit the Warrior's vulnerabilities than Pops, two future HOF PGs (who can still ball) and a perennial MVP finalist in his prime?

Vmart wrote:The fact is GS swept them regardless. You play the hand given just as the Knicks when Ewing was out for the Finals.

You scratch two starters (All-Stars) to go up against maybe the most stacked team in NBA history, you get a pass. Especially if you were giving them all they can handle without one of them.

meloshouldgo wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I heard the same thing on the radio yesterday. Chris Paul would be a great fit in SA. I think they would be the biggest competition for the GSW.

Between Paul's salary and his endorsements (state farm alone), you wonder if he would consider a one or two year deal, like LeBron and Durant? Paul would still be young enough for one more big deal if things dont work out. I would try to convince Parker and Ginobli to stay (if Parker can) if Paul signs. They might have enough for one more brief run.

I gonna say the Spurs window is closed it went with Duncan.

I would say the Spurs are at least as good as GSW with Paul (assuming Kawhi returns healthy).

Spirs +Paul maybe better than GSW at the top. GSW has more quality depth though