Milwaukee came dangerously close to making a summer signing that could've wrecked their entire season. Watching Chris Paul implode in Los Angeles is proof that the Bucks' front office dodged a bullet they didn't even know was coming at them.
According to Jake Fischer on his latest post on The People's Insider (subscription required), Paul had interest from teams such as the Bucks, Knicks, Mavericks, and Suns, but he was determined to stay as close to his family as possible, which led to him signing with LA.
Milwaukee was on that list. They were sold on the idea of bringing CP3 in, probably imagining veteran leadership and playoff experience helping guide their young guards. Instead, they would've gotten a declining point guard who can't accept his diminished role, who put up 2.9 points and 3.3 assists per game through 16 games.
The Bucks were in the hunt for Chris Paul's services last summer
Paul signed with the Clippers knowing full well that he'd be a backup, then immediately started acting out when he actually had to play backup minutes. That's toxic locker room behavior that kills young teams trying to build chemistry. Milwaukee doesn't need a Hall of Famer poisoning the well.
Imagine Chris Paul in Milwaukee's current situation. Ryan Rollins is breaking out, playing 30+ minutes and looking like a legitimate rotation piece. Kevin Porter Jr. is scoring in bunches despite some turnover issues. Cole Anthony is thriving as the primary backup ball-handler off the bench and learning from Rajon Rondo.
None of that development happens if Chris Paul is in Milwaukee demanding minutes and criticizing his teammates. Things might have gone much differently if point guards like Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. had not had the minutes and opportunities to develop the way they have.
Paul's presence would've frozen out the exact players who are now carrying Milwaukee through Giannis' injury absence. Doc Rivers probably would've leaned on his veteran comfort blanket instead of trusting young guys to grow through mistakes. The Bucks would be worse right now, not better, with Paul eating up backcourt minutes.
Reports on his locker room presence are particularly damning because they betray the disconnect between where Chris Paul is and where he thinks he should be. He doesn't believe he's declined much, and he's willing to fight coaches and teammates alike to prove that.
What the Bucks need at this point in time are guys who buy into their roles and help each other improve, not Hall of Famers throwing tantrums about playing time.
And Paul's clearly not accepting that his career is over as a starting-caliber player. He wants to be the main guy running an offense, and any team that can't give him that role will face the same dysfunction the Clippers are dealing with.
Obviously, the young Bucks are far from perfect. Rollins turns the ball over, Porter turns it over too much, and Anthony makes questionable decisions. But they're all improving, all coachable, all hungry to prove they belong. That's way more valuable than a declining legend who can't handle reality.
Let LA deal with the Chris Paul drama. Milwaukee's too busy developing actual contributors who might help them win games.