Chris Paul breaks his silence about his move to Gregg Popovich’s Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the most proactive teams this offseason. They may not have reached for the stars like many thought, but they have made a few helpful moves that should help them progress in the second year of the Victor Wembanyama era. One of those helpful moves was signing veteran floor general Chris Paul, whom they signed as a free agent for one year and $11 million.

Paul may not be the player he once was, but as one of the best point guards to ever play, he will know exactly how to run the Spurs’ Wembanyama-centric offense. But this partnership will be mutually beneficial. After all, the 39-year-old point guard excited about the opportunity In San Antonio, he has the chance to play for one of the greatest coaches of all time: Gregg Popovich.

“What’s up Spurs fans? I just want to tell you how excited I am to be coming to San Antonio. I never thought in a million years I’d get the opportunity to play for Pop. But I’m so excited for this young and talented team. I can’t wait to get there, get to work and see what we can accomplish,” Paul said in his first message to fans of his newest team, according to the Spurs’ official Twitter account (X) via ClutchPoints.

Chris Paul has played for some Hall of Fame coaches in his career, spending years under the tutelage of Doc Rivers, Mike D’Antoni and Steve Kerr – three of the most successful coaches of the last 20 years. But as outstanding as those coaches are, Gregg Popovich has perhaps the highest profile of any coach out there, commanding respect from his players and opponents alike wherever he goes.

Paul has played against Popovich’s Spurs several times in his playoff career, and it will be a relief for the 39-year-old to be on the same side of the court for once. It will definitely be a treat to see two of basketball’s greatest minds join forces to make Victor Wembanyama’s life in the NBA that much easier.

How much does Chris Paul have left in the tank?

Chris Paul’s track record is unquestionable. With the exception of the 2023-24 Golden State Warriors, Paul has a tendency to improve every team he plays for. He’s averaged 17.5 points and 9.4 assists per game in his career, and he also has a long history of getting the most out of his great pick-and-roll dance partners, from David West and Tyson Chandler to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to Deandre Ayton.

Last season wasn’t exactly ideal for Paul, though. He landed on a Warriors team whose best player played the same position as him, relegating him to the bench for the first time in his career. Paul averaged just 9.2 points and 6.8 dimes per game in 58 games (18 starts) last season, and those numbers aren’t just the result of his reduced playing time, as he was also a worse performer per minute. (He posted the worst per-36 minute stats of his career.)

Chris Paul is 39 years old, so his decline isn’t out of nowhere. Time catches up with everyone. But fans may need to temper their expectations a little when it comes to Paul’s impact on the Spurs.

At the very least, he will be an improvement over Tre Jones in terms of space. Jones has never shot better than 33.5 percent from beyond the arc in a single season in his four-year career, while Paul has a career record of 37.1 percent from beyond the three-point line. His mid-range pull-up game should give the Spurs a few more options while they continue to hand the keys to Victor Wembanyama.

Assessing the Spurs squad

Do the Spurs have a chance to make the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference? Maybe. A standout season from Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell would get us very close to that goal. Signing Harrison Barnes through pay cuts may not be the most inspiring move in the world, but it gives San Antonio some stability at the three position after Julian Champagnie started 59 games last season.

The Spurs also expect improvements from players like Jeremy Sochan and Malaki Branham. Keldon Johnson is still in the mix as a versatile, dynamic scorer. Stephon Castle could be a first-year contributor. Chris Paul and Tre Jones will appreciate the opportunity to pave the way for their teammates. Don’t be too surprised if the Spurs add about 15 to 20 wins next season, depending on how their young talent develops.