Chris Paul and Warriors agree to postpone contract deadline and consider trade

The first big hurdle the Warriors have to overcome this offseason will have to wait.

Chris Paul has agreed with the team to move the deadline for his $30 million contract guarantee by two days – from Friday to Sunday. By extending the deadline, Golden State has more time to look for trades where they can guarantee Paul’s contract and include it in a deal.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN was the first to report on the maneuver.

Paul’s new deadline is now the same day as the official start of free agency. Expect a flurry of transactions across the league at 3 p.m. Sunday.

In his 19th season, Paul averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists per game in his first role as a bench player. He was part of many of Golden State’s most productive lineups but was never the optimal fit for Stephen Curry and the Warriors.

Golden State acquired Paul in the Jordan Poole trade last summer to get rid of Poole’s long-term, high-dollar contract. Paul’s non-guaranteed salary structure gives the Warriors choices: They can release him for $30 million in salary relief or find a team willing to take on his $30 million salary and join forces with them in a trade. Guaranteeing his contract to bring him back — as an expensive, aging backup point guard — is not a realistic option.

The pressure is on for the Warriors and Paul George, the most talented star potentially available. The Clippers have reportedly refused to give the 34-year-old winger a full four-year maximum extension, opening the door for George to opt out and arrange a trade to a team that would be willing to give him one.

For salary reasons, Paul would likely have to be included in a trade for George or another All-Star caliber player.

But a George trade would have to happen quickly. His contract expires on Saturday, and if he turns it down to become a free agent, the Warriors’ chance of getting him is gone.