Chris Paul’s deadline has reportedly been extended while the Warriors look for a trade partner

The Golden State Warriors continue to look for a willing trade partner for 39-year-old veteran Chris Paul.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday that Paul and the Warriors agreed to push back the deadline to guarantee his $30 million salary for the upcoming 2024-25 season until the start of free agency on Sunday, a deadline that had originally been set for Friday.

The extra two days before his contract becomes guaranteed allows the Warriors to explore trade options before free agency begins. Golden State would likely use his $30 million contract to leverage the money to make a significant trade. In recent days, reports have surfaced that the Warriors are targeting Paul George in a sign-and-trade deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Warriors could also release Paul before his $30 million salary is guaranteed.

Paul was a longtime nemesis of the Warriors dynasty at its peak. He faced Golden State in the playoffs three times – once with the Clippers and twice with the Houston Rockets. He sent them home in 2014, but lost in 2018 and 2019.

In one of his first moves as the Warriors’ new general manager last July, Mike Dunleavy Jr. signed Paul by trading Jordan Poole, two picks and two young players to the Washington Wizards. In 58 games (18 starts) for the Warriors last year, Paul averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists in a career-low 26.4 minutes per game.