Chris Paul
OKC Thunder gets: Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington, and 8th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
New York Knicks get: Chris Paul
The New York Knicks finally land a superstar, granted an aging superstar but a superstar none the less.
Chris Paul has shown the world this season that his career is far from over, discarded in a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder from the Houston Rockets, Chris Paul has found a new lease of life and looks like an All-NBA performer once again.
Leading the Thunder to the playoffs, Paul has taken a ragtag team of Thunder players and has them playing like a legit playoff team. His leadership both on and off the court is second to none and he is showing every game that the Thunder emptied the Rockets’ pockets with this trade.
While not the ideal star due to his age, Paul brings what the New York Knicks desperately need, a grown-up, playmaking, and most importantly a leader.
With the likes of RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, and Frank Ntilkina, the Knicks have a bunch of young guys who so far in their young careers, haven’t had much in the way of leadership.
In the NBA, it is incredibly easy for losing to become a habit, when you are young you develop the habits that could shape your career. If you become ok with losing then your potential is capped.
The Knicks in hiring Leon Rose and Thibs are bringing in two people who don’t accept losing. If you add Chris Paul to the mix, that makes three.
The Thunder receives an interesting package from the Knicks which should make them happy but short and long term. In Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, and Wayne Ellington, the Thunder will be receiving over $34 million in expiring contracts and the 8th pick in the NBA draft.
That is music to the Thunders’ ears, They shed $34 million in salary in 2021 and they have a lottery player on a rookie scale contract for four-plus years.
Nothing is stopping the Thunder from re-signing the likes of Julius Randle but the likes of Wayne Ellington and Elfrid Payton will be rotation players as the Thunder will focus on developing Shai Gildress Alexander.
Going into the Summer of 2021, The Thunder will have a ridiculous amount of cap space with Steven Adams and Dennis Schroeder both expiring contracts. It leaves them with ample cap space to rebuild, a lottery picks to develop which they excel at, and SGA as the future of the team. The perfect situation for both franchises.