The Golden State Warriors have made the difficult decision to waive point guard Chris Paul in preparation for the start of free agency. As reported by multiple sources, the 12-time All-Star will now be entering free agency as an unrestricted free agent. The Warriors made this decision to avoid guaranteeing Paul’s contract for $30 million next season by the Sunday deadline.
Despite attempting to find a trade partner for Paul before the deadline, the Warriors ultimately released him after failing to do so. In his one season with the team, Paul mostly served as a backup to Stephen Curry and his scoring abilities have declined from his All-Star peak, but he still possesses solid playmaking and leadership skills. At 39 years old, Paul averaged 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 turnovers, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range. He may be a desirable option for a contending team looking for point guard depth.
The Warriors are also facing uncertainty with five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson as he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Talks with Thompson have reportedly stalled, leading him to explore his options in free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, and Philadelphia 76ers are all teams reportedly on Thompson’s radar as he meets with them to discuss potential opportunities. The Warriors are now focused on reshaping their roster around Stephen Curry in anticipation of competition in the Western Conference next season.