It has now been exactly five months since Chris Paul was sent from Houston to Oklahoma City in the blockbuster trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Rockets. From the moment that deal happened, Paul has been considered the NBA’s most obvious candidate to be moved in another trade, but it appears as if the Thunder and the veteran point guard are preparing for the possibility that no deal is coming.
“There is no belief in Oklahoma City or even in the CP3 camp that there’s going to be a trade for him,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on Sunday night on the network’s trade deadline special (video link). “… I think they’re resigned that he’ll be there.”
[RELATED: More trade rumors from Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe]
According to Wojnarowski, an offseason trade involving Paul remains a possibility, but his massive contract makes him an especially tricky player to move during the season, even though he has played well so far in Oklahoma City.
A player like Danilo Gallinari, who has a $22.6MM expiring contract, is a stronger candidate to be dealt before the deadline. However, the Thunder won’t just be prepared to accept the best offer for the veteran forward. Wojnarowski points out that – due to the lack of teams projected to have cap room during the 2020 offseason – OKC could realistically keep Gallinari through the season, then work with him on a sign-and-trade in the summer to get something back for him at that point.
Dennis Schroder and Steven Adams are among the other veteran trade candidates on the Thunder’s roster, and there should be interest in both, per Woj. But all four players have significant cap hits and Gallinari is the only one on an expiring deal, so there’s no guarantee the club will be extremely active at the deadline.
Thunder gm is always one step ahead. Sing and trade idea is super smart
Then they will lift their voices in harmony!
Sign
So any trade for Gallinari they’ll want a 1st back. Finding a team with either attractive parts or another expiring deal is the trick tho. Ibaka for Gallinari and Noel makes a lot of sense for Toronto.
Meh, as a Raptors fan I think I would rather have Serge on his expiring for this title defence than Gallo and Noel.
They’re stuck with CP3, no one wants him. Poor OKC.
The Rockets sure did when they traded Lou, Harrell, Beverly and a 1st to get him. Then two 1sts and two pick swaps to get rid of him. Great investment by the Rockets!
Paul is benefitting OKC. Westbrook wasn’t going to take them anywhere. Keep up.
OKC is better off with CP3 than with Russ? Whatever.
This guy is the troll of the year….CP3 plus the picks…yes, OKC will be better off
I think any team would be better off with pretty much anyone over Russ. Russ hasn’t positively affected winning in a long time now. In fact, he makes the team a whole lot worse when he is ok the court. And a Max contract to boot, no thanks. Is there anything more Houston Rockety than that?? I don’t think so
Paul’s real value is being a mentor to SGA and others on the team. Instilling a culture that will live on beyond his time here is worth the money. We weren’t winning with Westbrook so it’s actually best case scenario.
Not a fan of either one but I’d still rather have CP3 over Westbrook. Maybe Harden wouldn’t have to score 40 a game if his other “star” could shoot. As usual Harden won’t have much left in the tank come playoff time and The Rockets will fall in the semis.
It may take some time but Paul will either get bought out or traded. Then they have both contracts off their books and lots of trade capital.
Steven Adams to Boston makes sense.
It does, but unfortunately that contract doesn’t make sense