Report: Warriors reject star trade for Chris Paul worth $215 million before releasing him

Chris Paul turned out to be just a one-year loan for the Golden State Warriors, as they released him on June 30 after turning down a contract that would have landed them a former two-time NBA All-Star.

According to Chris Haynes, the Chicago Bulls offered the Warriors Zach LaVine in a package that also included Paul.

“I was told the Chicago Bulls were trying to set something up with the Golden State Warriors to put together a Zach Lavine package,” Haynes reported at the start of NBA free agency on June 30. “You know what I was told? It could have been Zach Lavine for Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins.”

It was explained to me that the Warriors did not think that was an appropriate amount for a contract structure. So things did not go as planned. So the whole thing fell through, which led to the Golden State Warriors deciding to release Chris Paul. I was told that it was Mike Dunleavy, the general manager, who called Chris Paul and told him the news.”

LaVine’s five-year, $215 million contract has three seasons remaining, with a $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season.

Haynes added that the Warriors tried to push back the guaranteed date for Paul’s $30 million salary again to find another signing, but Paul’s camp was not comfortable with that.

Paul was also included in a series of trade packages the Warriors prepared in the battle for Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George, according to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic. However, George exercised his $48.8 million player option that would have made him an unrestricted free agent, effectively blocking the Warriors’ ability to sign him.

Chris Paul’s sacrifice to fit in with the Warriors was in vain

The Warriors acquired Paul last offseason in a trade with the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and a pair of second-round picks.

They made the trade with an eye toward future salary cap relief while hoping that his veteran coaching leadership would help them remain competitive last season.

It didn’t work out as planned.

“Yeah, I mean, with Chris, everything, everything is like that,” Kerr told reporters after the Warriors were eliminated from the play-in tournament in April. “He’s one of the most professional guys I’ve ever known. He sacrificed so much that he came off the bench. He sacrificed so much that for the first time in his career, he not only came off the bench, but sometimes played 18 minutes, like the other day.

It was incredible for a Hall of Fame player to do something like that without complaining, but instead encouraging the others on the bench and the coaches to work with him and get through the entire season.”

What’s next for Chris Paul and the Warriors?

Paul, 39, will become a free agent after the worst season of his career.

The veteran point guard found himself on the bench for the first time in his career, but he made the most of it, averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 26.4 minutes.

Paul was the best reserve player in assists per game and the Warriors’ best player in steals per game.

There will be no shortage of interested parties for Paul, as he is still fit to play despite his advanced age and was one of the better point guards in the league.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the San Antonio Spurs and the Clippers are interested in Paul.

The Warriors will still try to get rid of Wiggins, preferably as a replacement for Paul. If there is no deal, their option is to scour the market for cheap point guards available as free agents.