Milwaukee has “expressed interest” in Chris Paul, per Chris Haynes
The Bucks aren’t done making moves yet. With roster spots left to fill, a couple more free agency signings will be coming soon. So far, Milwaukee hasn’t landed any players they’ve been linked to (Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Deandre Ayton, etc), but they’ve been linked to several other guys throughout the last couple days, and they landed one of the biggest free agents in Myles Turner, of course. The latest rumored target, according to Chris Haynes, is future Hall of Famer Chris Paul.
Paul is one of the top players remaining on the open market. Although he’s 40 years old now, his résumé speaks for itself, and he’s still a steady contributor even in the twilight of his career. For the Spurs last season, he averaged 8.8 PPG, 7.4 APG, and 1.3 SPG while shooting 42.7% from the field and 37.7% from three. More impressive than his stats is the fact that he appeared in all 82 regular-season games. CP3 hasn’t lost his place amongst the league’s elite table setters, and he can still assert himself and knock down clutch pull-up jumpers if needed.
While Kevin Porter Jr. is currently slotted to start at the one, Milwaukee’s decision to let Ryan Rollins walk means they could use another ball handler in their rotation. Paul would be the perfect backup for this squad, especially if he stays healthy like he did last season. He would immediately become the second-best playmaker on the Bucks. Gary Trent Jr., Myles Turner, and the team’s other shooters would love playing with him.
Giannis would also probably love playing with Paul, at least from an on-court standpoint. The veteran guard wouldn’t get in the MVP’s way at all because he doesn’t need to score. In fact, Paul would help Giannis get a couple extra easy buckets a game. However, the two seem to have some long-standing distaste for each other. As Bucks fans should remember, it was Paul who pushed Giannis mid-air during the iconic Valley Oop in the 2021 Finals. The two also had a heated back-and-forth after a game in San Antonio this past season. Ultimately, the Bucks wouldn’t bring in Chris Paul if Giannis didn’t sign off on it, and it seems unlikely that he would. Yet, it’s fun to imagine two of the sport’s ultimate competitors teaming up and chasing a ring.
At this point, it appears the Bucks couldn’t offer Paul more than the veteran minimum, and he may end up commanding a larger contract than that. Coupled with Giannis’ feelings, CP3 is probably not a realistic target in the end. Plus, Chris Haynes has hurt his reputation a little in the last two days as he adds unnecessary dramatic flair to the whole Damian Lillard situation. Either way, keep an eye on Chris Paul in the coming days.