Chris Paul
Player Examination: The Point God. 9X All-NBA and All-Defense. At age 35, he’s still really *insert bad word* good, you guys. 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, five rebounds, and 1.6 steals per contest. His production and age aren’t issues. It’s the contract. He makes $41 million next season and $44 million the following season. Oof.
RRO: The Thunder are down to send decent players out in return for prospects and picks. Dennis Schroeder is probably the only addition I would look into. A speedy point guard off the bench, he could run the Bucks’ second unit himself. At $15 million a year, though, it may be hard to squeeze him in a deal.
Unless MKE gives up young players and picks, OKC doesn’t give up Chris Paul. OKC gets two good veterans (that can be flipped later for picks), two young prospects, and a late first. Bucks get a third star.
This trades leaves Milwaukee with just CP3 and Wes Matthews at the guard positions, with not a ton of flexibility to get more depth. Couldn’t make a trade including Schroeder really work.
Verdict: Mixed feelings. CP3 is likely the best player the Bucks could add in the offseason. If the Bucks can pull it off, they probably should. They will have to search the veteran minimum market to fill out the rest of the roster, however.