Chris Paul’s tenure with the Phoenix Suns has officially come to an end as he was traded to Bradley Beal on Sunday.
Throughout the offseason, there was constant talk of whether the Suns would trade Paul, forego him and stretch him, or if he would simply forego him.
The only way he could have returned to the Suns in this scenario would have been if the team had waived him, as a team cannot win back a player they gave up this season.
Instead, he was traded and cannot re-sign with Phoenix if Washington relinquishes him under league rules.
The Wizards would reportedly like Paul on their team but would be willing to find a second trading partner if the guard wishes to play against a competitor at the end of his career. Athletic’s Josh Robbins reported.
TNT’s Chris Haynes reported that the Wizards will likely redirect Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade that would reunite him with his former team in the city where his family lives.
Paul came to Phoenix after the COVID-19 bubble that caused the Suns to narrowly make the playoffs in 2020.
In three seasons at the Valley, Paul averaged 15.1 points per game, 9.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 194 games. Most importantly, Phoenix made the playoffs in all three seasons. Paul was with the team, the first time the Suns had made three straight playoffs since 2005-08.
He was also a key factor in the Suns’ first appearance in the NBA Finals since the team lost in six games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 1993.
What’s more, he didn’t come to Phoenix late in his career, but rejuvenated a Valley thirsty for winning basketball culture.
The Point God made All-Star teams in his freshman two years at the Valley and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2021.
Paul was second in the NBA in assists only behind LeBron James in 2020 and second behind Trae Young in 2021.