NBA Free Agency 2024: Chris Paul to the Spurs is a smart, low-risk move that could pay off on and off the court

The Spurs have taken their first step toward free agents by agreeing to terms with future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes. He will sign a one-year deal worth “more than $11 million,” according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

It’s an interesting decision by the Spurs to bring in a veteran who is on his last legs, but Paul isn’t just any former star. He was one of the best point guards the league has ever seen, a master of the pick and roll who, even at this late age, can elevate the play of the big men covering him or punish the defense with a lethal elbow jumper that tormented San Antonio’s drop defense for years. He’s also known as a tough but fair leader who can command the respect of the locker room. His loud-mouthed style can and has alienated teammates in the past, but that shouldn’t be a problem with the Spurs, as everyone is already used to a disciplinarian like Gregg Popovich to guide them. If it made sense to sign a 39-year-old, it was Paul.

It’s important to remember that Paul is no longer a star. He averaged career-low points for three straight seasons, and last season his per-game numbers were 9.2 points, 6.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds, which are definitely respectable but by no means mind-blowing. He played alongside a high-volume guard and a forward who shared playmaking duties in Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but it would be foolish to expect the best CP3 to suddenly return in San Antonio. He’s also never been the most durable player, meaning other guards will have to step in when he inevitably goes down. He’s not a savior, and the Spurs won’t be able to rely on him to solve all the problems they had on offense last season.

Fortunately, he doesn’t have to turn back the clock to be helpful. By sharing minutes at point guard with Tre Jones, the Spurs have a solid hand on the helm at all times, which should do wonders for an offense that lost the ball too often and was confused at times last season, as happens to most young teams. He’s also a great fit alongside Victor Wembanyama in the half-court, as Paul can reward teams that focus their entire defense on preventing lobs and pocket passes with his mid-range pull-up jumper. The range no longer extends beyond the arc, as Paul has only converted 30 percent of his pull-up threes over the past three seasons, but he’s enough of a threat just by being willing to let it fly that opponents have to pay attention to him.

The biggest concerns are his role and whether the Spurs will adapt to him or he to them. Paul came off the bench in 40 of the 58 games he played in Golden State and played a career-low 25.4 minutes per game for the Warriors last season, showing he was willing to sacrifice his personal performance for the good of the team. But he did so in a franchise that had big ambitions before faltering. Will he be willing to do that in San Antonio, especially if there is a slow start, or does he see himself as a key building block among untested teammates? Here’s how Haynes described the meeting Paul reportedly had with Gregg Popovich and Paul’s expectations:

Paul is no longer an elite guard and trying to restore his former glory could hurt him and the team. The Spurs could sorely use a playmaker who can play off the ball, pass first and hold his own on defense for 20-25 minutes per game, and Paul should be able to provide them with that. If he instead tries to run the offense all over him by slowing the tempo and dominating the ball like he did in his prime, he’ll force a major adjustment on a team that built its identity around ball movement and pace (second in assists per game and third in pace last season). Change isn’t necessarily bad, especially after a 22-win season, but Paul will only be in San Antonio for a short time and there’s no point trying to adapt to him.

While there are some potential issues, it’s too early to worry too much about what could go wrong. Paul is a smart player who probably understands he’s joining a young team as a mentor. He might get frustrated if the Spurs don’t win much or he struggles, but there seems to be a level of mutual respect with Gregg Popovich that should ensure all is well on the court and in the locker room no matter what. Whether he’s playing alongside Stephon Castle or backing him up, he’ll teach him a lot about how to score points and be a playmaker, and he’ll improve Wemby’s game as he has with every center he’s played with in his illustrious career. And since he’s on a one-year deal, there’s no risk with him coming in, and if things go poorly, he could be traded or released.

The Spurs didn’t get the star point guard many fans were hoping for before entering free agency, but Chris Paul could be a tremendous help in the rebuild, both on and off the court, if he buys in. As long as the franchise and the legendary playmaker’s expectations for his role align, this could be a small step in the right direction for a San Antonio think tank that remains patient but is clearly looking for a baseline level of competency.