Warriors player Chris Paul makes important contract decision worth $30 million in transfer talks

The Golden State Warriors are widely seen as on the decline of their championship contenders and point guard Chris Paul is on the waning side of his career. However, the well-known State Farm pitcher and crafty veteran has yet to pay a princely sum on his upcoming 2024-2025 contract, leading to a decision announced on Friday.

The news about Paul came in the wake of his reaction to the Lakers’ selection of Bronny James. The possibility of Paul moving to New Orleans or Los Angeles was also discussed.

The latest news may surprise some fans simply because of the timing.

Paul agrees to postpone the date for the guaranteed salary

According to NBA league sources reported by Chris Haynes on X, Paul has agreed to push back the guaranteed date for his $30 million salary for the 2024-2025 season to June 30. The move came just before today’s deadline for the decision and was first reported by NBA on TNT and Bleacher Report.

The news comes amid rumors that both Andrew Wiggins and Paul are being “aggressively” traded as the Warriors look to restructure their struggling former championship-caliber roster in the short term. This could be a sign that Paul is leaving Golden State.

The news also came amid reported interest from the Warriors in signing Paul George, according to ESPN commentator and NBA insider Brian Windhorst.

“These are years that cost a little less than the maximum contract, and Paul George honestly wants four years,” Windhorst said.

“He wants the full maximum and there are a number of teams out there that are willing to give it to him, that are willing to trade for it,” he added, also explaining that Golden State is one of them.

Paul’s subpar 2023 campaign

Paul averaged less than 10 points per game last season and shot 44.1 percent from the field, a solid but unspectacular result. He dished out 6.8 assists per minute, but was not his usual self in terms of offensive efficiency and effectiveness on defense. His passes to Stephen Curry, who had another MVP-worthy season, are a big reason for his high assist count.

Steve Kerr has talked about the Warriors’ championship window closing, and the age of guys like Paul and Stephen Curry is a big reason why. Stephen Curry and Chris Paul seem to fit well together in the Warriors’ backcourt, but Paul’s window of being an effective NBA player seems to be closing quickly.

Paul turned 39 in May. Unless he becomes famous in his 40s like Tom Brady, his days as a top-tier NBA player seem numbered, which is one reason Golden State seems keen to deal him.

Given such an astronomical contract sum, it may be difficult for Steve Kerr’s Warriors to find a buyer, although recent rumors suggest the New Orleans Pelicans may be interested.