LAS VEGAS — Chris Paul formally turns into commerce eligible on Monday.
Paul, who had returned to the Clippers on a one-year deal for what he says is his final NBA season, has been away from the workforce since Dec. 3 after they determined to chop ties with him amid reported friction with coaches and executives.
The Clippers stated they’d work with Paul to seek out him a brand new workforce.
The Submit reported that the Knicks beforehand had inner discussions about probably buying and selling for Paul.
Backup level guard has been a weak spot for the Knicks a lot of the yr after Malcolm Brogdon’s sudden retirement simply earlier than the season, although Tyler Kolek had a robust exhibiting in that function throughout Saturday’s win over the Magic within the NBA Cup semifinals.
Blake Griffin, now an analyst for Amazon Prime’s NBA protection, was teammates with Paul on the Clippers throughout their “Lob Metropolis” period.
Does he assume a Knicks-Paul pairing would work?
“What’s loopy is you’ve seen him get to Oklahoma Metropolis and see him be a frontrunner, a mentor, a man who’s kind of instructing and serving to guys study the sport,” Griffin stated. “He did that for us with the Clippers. Houston was kind of a distinct state of affairs. He went to Phoenix and it was the primary time in ceaselessly Phoenix actually had true success, with Chris Paul on the level guard. Chris Paul left, and so Phoenix fizzled. CP was in San Antonio and kind of did the identical factor. So time and time once more, he’s proved — that’s been my greatest factor with this entire state of affairs. Time and time once more, he’s proved that he’s gone to a workforce and type of match the function that he wanted to suit. Performed much less minutes. Did this, did that. So it’d be nice for the Knicks.”
Knicks president Leon Rose was additionally beforehand Paul’s longtime agent.
Griffin may see the Knicks advantages of bringing in Paul, however Paul ending his profession in a Knicks jersey could be unusual to him.
“That’s bizarre to think about,” Griffin stated. “If he retires a Knick, that’s loopy. They’re an ideal workforce.”
