Chris Paul and the Milwaukee Bucks have been linked for quite some time now, and here are three reasons the team should pursue him.
Following their second-round exit to the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks immediately shifted their focus to the offseason. In dire need to make some roster adjustments, one of the biggest names floating around has been Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul.
Paul had a fantastic season with OKC, averaging 17.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Despite having a 0.2 percent chance to make the playoffs in the preseason rankings, the guard led his team to a 5-seed in the Western Conference, undoubtedly turning heads across the league in the process.
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Now, it appears that the Thunder might be trending towards a rebuild, stockpiling a historic amount of draft capital over the next several years. Shortly after the season came to a close, the team and former head coach Billy Donovan agreed to mutually part ways because the direction of the organization moving forward was unclear, signaling change is imminent.
If they are indeed trending towards a rebuild, the 35-year-old Paul becomes the odd man out, and they might look to flip him to pile onto their ever-growing stash of assets. In the event that Paul is available for trade, there will be no shortage of suitors looking to land the 10-time All-Star, and the Milwaukee Bucks originally seemed to be the perfect fit.
However, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Eric Nehm ($$), it is highly unlikely the team pursues Paul, citing financial and personality meshing predicaments.
That revelation might be a headscratcher for some, especially with all of the whispers surrounding a CP3 to the Milwaukee Bucks deal. As the organization gears up for what might be the most crucial offseason in franchise history, here are three reasons the Bucks should change their mind about Chris Paul.
Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons to pursue a Chris Paul trade – Next season could be championship or bust
The Milwaukee Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo under contract for one more season before he becomes a free agent. Milwaukee can offer the back-to-back MVP a supermax extension worth north of $200 million this offseason, but after consecutive early playoff exits, he might be hesitant to sign.
If Milwaukee enters next season with Giannis having not put pen to paper, that could be their last run with him on the roster if they fail to meet expectations yet again. The team is undoubtedly aware of this terrifying reality, as they recently assured Antetokounmpo that they were willing to spend into the luxury tax to give him a championship-caliber supporting cast.
Chris Paul having upwards of $85 million on his current deal certainly is not the most desirable deal for a 35-year-old point guard, but it might be worth the gamble for the Bucks. They are a team with their generational talent hanging in the balance, and they know that going all-in to bring him some support is the only way to keep him satisfied.
There are some rumblings that if Paul gets moved, he wants to join a contending team such as the Milwaukee Bucks. Via Marc Berman of The New York Post:
"“Some NBA sources believe Paul would feel blessed to be on a winning club such as the Bucks. But perhaps Paul, too, would desire to play in the world’s biggest media market and reunite with Leon Rose, his former agent. “He’s 35 — he wants to win,’’ one NBA executive said.”"
The opportunity appears there for the taking, but it is up to the front office to capitalize on it. Adding one of the greatest point guards ever to put on an NBA jersey would unquestionably help the Milwaukee Bucks in their pursuit of a title as they approach a potential do-or-die scenario. It would also be a costly decision financially, but with the franchise’s greatest player in five decades undecided on his long-term future, it might be worth it.
Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons to pursue a Chris Paul trade – The team desperately needs an upgrade at point guard
For three consecutive seasons since being acquired, Eric Bledsoe’s postseason woes have haunted the Milwaukee Bucks.
In 31 playoff games with the team, Bledsoe has regressed to a shell of his regular-season self, averaging 13.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while his efficiency has dipped to .411/.254/.732 shooting splits. The guard has gotten a significant amount of criticism for his disappearing acts and could use a fresh start elsewhere.
It appears that the third strike is indeed his last, as Bledsoe is shaping up to be a potential trade candidate, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania ($$):
With the Bucks in the market for a point guard, Chris Paul is the ideal fit for a team that needs another bona-fide star, particularly in the playoffs. Despite little team success, Paul’s individual postseason prowess is unquestionably an upgrade over what Eric Bledsoe brings to the table.
In 109 playoff games over his ongoing 15-year-career, Paul’s averages come in at 20.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three. That type of play could undoubtedly tip the needle for a Milwaukee team whose biggest shortcoming in recent memory has been the starting point guard play in the postseason.
Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons to pursue a Chris Paul trade – He would be Giannis Antetokounmpo’s best teammate yet
That statement is not a subliminal shot at Khris Middleton, who is a two-time All-Star in his own right. However, there is no question that Chris Paul would take the mantle as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s best teammate if he landed with the Milwaukee Bucks.
One of the greatest floor generals in the history of the game, Paul would take this offense to new heights with his playmaking and scoring abilities. The guard is no slouch on the defensive end either, racking up nine All-Defensive team honors in his career. That type of star power would alleviate significant pressure off of Giannis, giving the team another go-to option.
It appears that there was even some potential interest on Paul’s end to come to the Bucks and play with the back-to-back league MVP last year. The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo made an appearance on ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s podcast, The Woj Pod, last October, where he stated there were whisperers of Paul’s interest in Milwaukee:
"“I had heard he wanted to go to Milwaukee. Of course, you’d want to go play with Giannis.”"
If that interest is still there, the Milwaukee Bucks should undoubtedly give the Oklahoma City Thunder a call regarding Chris Paul. Pulling off a trade for the future Hall of Famer would unquestionably be a tall task for Milwaukee’s front office. Those two years, $85 million left on the 35-years-old’s deal might be intimidating, but this is a championship-caliber move.
Bringing in a player with those capabilities would undoubtedly be a good pitch towards Giannis Antetokunmpo as he ponders his future with the Milwaukee Bucks.