Nine Thoughts After the Spurs Sign Chris Paul

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/chris-paul-spurs-signing-free-agent/

[Obstructed_View]

I hate him. Not because his literal only playoff career highlight is against the Spurs. For killing the streak with his whining and flopping.

[cutewizard]

yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[heyheymymy]

I kind of wonder if the poor state the Warriors were in last year affected Paul's appearance. Pretty staggering decline last season and quite shocking to watch former Goliaths fall to earth.

Perhaps SA can be a rejuvenating situation for Paul but I'm really not expecting much from a 39 year old in terms of on court production. Moreso the wealth of development knowledge at Spurs disposal.

Still saying I bet he surprises us a few games. CP3 is a heady player and can get production purely from IQ so the loss of athleticism possibly could be overstated as an impact to a very slight degree hopefully lol

[heyheymymy]

Also love this move as it shows SA can be a sought after desirable destination for name brand vets

CP3 is pretty top tier older vet echelon. Could make other valuable vets take notice and want to join what's cooking in SA

[Obstructed_View]

I kind of wonder if the poor state the Warriors were in last year affected Paul's appearance. Pretty staggering decline last season and quite shocking to watch former Goliaths fall to earth.

Perhaps SA can be a rejuvenating situation for Paul but I'm really not expecting much from a 39 year old in terms of on court production. Moreso the wealth of development knowledge at Spurs disposal.

Still saying I bet he surprises us a few games. CP3 is a heady player and can get production purely from IQ so the loss of athleticism possibly could be overstated as an impact to a very slight degree hopefully lol
If CP3 agrees with your assessment of GS, coming to SA with Victor could be a way to get his reputation back.

Paul seems to embracing the sort of role I hoped we might get from Klay. Maybe get less of a player and more of a teacher. And as others have said, if he helps the team and contributes, he could fetch some good assets at the trade deadline.

[heyheymymy]

Yeah really refreshing to see CP3 come on $11 mil instead of ring chase and the humility it takes to be down with Pops sales pitch on role is very promising. It bodes well that a guy like CP3 would agree to this proposal so it makes me think he's over himself and ready to bring wisdom and compatibility.

On the other hand if not, I'm loving the limited price and duration of the deal as a risk free trial that should be easy to cut ties with should CP3 prove to be more trouble than he's worth on the court (or off of it)

[heyheymymy]

2) While the Spurs were hopeful that Paul would buy into the vision, it’s actually a bit surprising that the point guard agreed so quickly. The common assumption throughout the league was that Paul was going to opt to sign with a contender.

Maybe he did

:bobo

[Obstructed_View]

Is this the last vet the Spurs can afford to sign?

[exstatic]

Well, the deal came in below my vomit criteria of 2 years and the MLE.

I wonder if the Spurs considered that the Clippers are moving to their new arena this season, and that Paul won’t be able to provide guide services to the back hallways of the Crypto.com arena?

[spurraider21]

Is this the last vet the Spurs can afford to sign?
nah. we have another 12-15 mil or so depending on whether they just waive graham or are able to trade off the small guarantee he has.

can create another 2.5 by cutting bassey

that number isnt factoring the cap hold for the mamu RFA tender (that hold reduces our space by about 2.7m)

not enough to get into sweepstakes for somebody like klay imo, but definitely enough to outbid others for a year of batum if they wanted another 1 year vet

[tbdog]

nah. we have another 12-15 mil or so depending on whether they just waive graham or are able to trade off the small guarantee he has.

can create another 2.5 by cutting bassey

that number isnt factoring the cap hold for the mamu RFA tender (that hold reduces our space by about 2.7m)

not enough to get into sweepstakes for somebody like klay imo, but definitely enough to outbid others for a year of batum if they wanted another 1 year vet

The rumors of acquiring Tobias Harris is concerning. I hated him in his prime. If Spurs are trying to secure cap space, then Caleb Martin is off the table

[Killakobe81]

Also love this move as it shows SA can be a sought after desirable destination for name brand vets

CP3 is pretty top tier older vet echelon. Could make other valuable vets take notice and want to join what's cooking in SA

Agree with most of what you said but when you have to overpay to get a top tier 39year old that doesn’t sound like a desirable destination… but still a good get.

[exstatic]

Agree with most of what you said but when you have to overpay to get a top tier 39year old that doesn’t sound like a desirable destination… but still a good get.

Laker fan still salty about no Chris Paul to LA.

[spurraider21]

The rumors of acquiring Tobias Harris is concerning. I hated him in his prime. If Spurs are trying to secure cap space, then Caleb Martin is off the table
as with any signing, would depend on the terms. money, length. you get him for anything between that 12-15 figure and he is well worth it. he's a much better player than keldon. i think detroit probably outbids for him.

[MarCowMar]

The only negative I can see is this possibly raises our floor a bit, thus hurting a 2025 tank.

How much does Paul move the W/L total?

It's also great that Castle will have to win the role for starting PG. Much better for his development than to be blessed with it circumstantially.

[TheChillFactor]

i hate him. i have hated him since that series in 2008.

once he puts the jersey on, i'm down. Go Spurs Go.

[spursparker9]

His reputation is sneaky, flopper, hypocrite, asshole type of guy.

But he has proven to uplift young teams (LAC, OKC, PHX). Is a good signing.

He also had good relationship with Timmy and TP. Might be the next HC after Pop retires

[UNT Eagles 2016]

I hate him. Not because his literal only playoff career highlight is against the Spurs. For killing the streak with his whining and flopping.

yes it was literally more than half my life ago now but I'm still upset about that too. I also never bought the bspn and other media misinformation about Bruce being "dirty" -- it was more the media getting soft and dicksucking superstars and trending towards the shitty skittlemode arcade product of basketball we've had for at least 6+ years now (and arguably more with just GSW alone).

[ginobilized]

I'm glad we did SOMETHING!
CP3 will add 4-5pts to Wemby's scoring, making him an All-Star this season. The kids on the team might've messed that up for Wemby.
Getting players into the offense earlier and more purposely will go a long way in growing this into something real.
I think that Paul will help orchestrate on the defensive end, too. Pop once described CP3 as "he runs an organized playground." That sounds like a good fit for this squad.

I'm a teacher by profession, so I love the educational opportunities for this low-IQ squad, but, mostly this helps Wemby's developmental path forward.
It's a smart move by the Spurs. Interesting that Pop called him. I wonder if BWright was involved in the process?

[John B]

Great pickup. Spurs could’ve only dreamed CP3 joining and with a huge pay cut. His mentoring would be huge, while the domino of vets coming could start here. I certainly hope the Spurs are not done yet. There are still big fish to fry, ala Markkanen and maybe another vet like Batum. And yes, bringing in Nunez to learn from the maestro is huge. I can’t wait to see more.

[John B]

The only negative I can see is this possibly raises our floor a bit, thus hurting a 2025 tank.

How much does Paul move the W/L total?

It's also great that Castle will have to win the role for starting PG. Much better for his development than to be blessed with it circumstantially.

That’s why Spurs will never give up Hawks picks, unless I hope for Markkanen.

[The Truth #6]

I think his benefit will be in the locker room type of thing. His wisdom will be great. I generally despise him but it's what the team desperately needs so I'm down with it. Our rivalry with him is ancient news, so time to move forward I suppose. I am curious to see how motivated and in shape he is when he arrives, however. Part of me thinks he was basically about to retire and then just got convinced by Pop.

[baseline bum]

I hate him. Not because his literal only playoff career highlight is against the Spurs. For killing the streak with his whining and flopping.

Like I said in the other thread, I hated Robert Horry for years too. Not just for stealing Game 1 in 95, but also for hitting David in the nuts on purpose in the 03 playoffs and for all the times he attacked Tim and Dave with dirty nut shots (he especially loved to pretend to save a ball going out of bounds by throwing it right at their crotch as hard as he could). But still loved Rob in a Spurs uniform and am glad to see Paul in our colors too just for what he can teach Stephon about being a PG in this league. Though should get some great Wemby highlights out of CP3's elite lob passing too.

[ambchang]

Reminded me of the MVPau signing. About three years too late.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Also love this move as it shows SA can be a sought after desirable destination for name brand vets

CP3 is pretty top tier older vet echelon. Could make other valuable vets take notice and want to join what's cooking in SA

Desirable destination, lol. We paid a 39 year old $11 million to come.

[exstatic]

The only negative I can see is this possibly raises our floor a bit, thus hurting a 2025 tank.

How much does Paul move the W/L total?

It's also great that Castle will have to win the role for starting PG. Much better for his development than to be blessed with it circumstantially.

There’s no 2025 tank. Spurs shut down 2 starters and their 6th man, and finished the year 6-4, including beating defending champ Denver.

[InRareForm]

Chris Paul had to play with some small lineups with warriors that diminished his production. He's old but it's a good fit with sas

[Obstructed_View]

His reputation is sneaky, flopper, hypocrite, asshole type of guy.

But he has proven to uplift young teams (LAC, OKC, PHX). Is a good signing.

He also had good relationship with Timmy and TP. Might be the next HC after Pop retires
He's great at improving teams in the regular season. So you might say he's in the perfect spot.

[RLT]

Great read.

I'm honestly shocked by CP3's decision to come here. The only way I see that happening is if the Spurs told him they would trade him to a contender at the deadline. This is a win-win for both. The Spurs young players will be able to soak up that knowledge and CP3 can see what teams are in the best position to win instead of signing with a "contender" before the season, just for it to turn out like the Warriors last season. That really had to be disappointing for him. I've never liked CP3, but respect what he's done in this league. Now that he's in a Spurs jersey, we must show him the love, even though it will make some of you physically ill. Love it, tbh.

[LeBowen]

There’s no 2025 tank. Spurs shut down 2 starters and their 6th man, and finished the year 6-4, including beating defending champ Denver.

Am I crazy or are people in here severely underestimating how good Wemby already is?
I think we're going to see another level up at the Olympics.

In my mind there's no doubt he'll be a top10 player and DPOY winner next season.
He's already one of the best floor raisers in the league. The entire game completely changes when he's on the floor.
Every team with long-term contention in mind should already build with Wemby in mind. Small ball won't fly anymore.

[DPG21920]

Value is great and no risk. His mentorship is worth it but I feel like a few are overlooking some things and being more hopeful than objective but we will see. I really hope he has something actually left in the tank

[Atl Spur]

Great pickup! Our team needed a vets voice or two especially at the point position. A true coach like player

[spurraider21]

as with any signing, would depend on the terms. money, length. you get him for anything between that 12-15 figure and he is well worth it. he's a much better player than keldon. i think detroit probably outbids for him.
Went to Detroit for 2/52

[Lebowski Brickowski]

"mentor" is a funny way to say asshole who is hated by his teammates and ruins chemistry. Fuck cp.

[spurraider21]

"mentor" is a funny way to say asshole who is hated by his teammates and ruins chemistry. Fuck cp.
Mentor doesn’t mean coddling and tucking them in at night. If you can’t learn just by being around a GOAT that’s a you problem. He’s going to set the tone by example

[Lebowski Brickowski]

Mentor doesn’t mean coddling and tucking them in at night. If you can’t learn just by being around a GOAT that’s a you problem. He’s going to set the tone by example

https://media1.tenor.com/m/f7p4Rk17XgIAAAAd/flop-basketball.gif

[T Park]

"mentor" is a funny way to say asshole who is hated by his teammates and ruins chemistry. Fuck cp.


Completely untrue of his time in Phoenix and OKC

[jeebus]

"mentor" is a funny way to say asshole who is hated by his teammates and ruins chemistry. Fuck cp.

this is a reddit level take.

[SpursBills]

Castle doesn't have the rim pressure or off the dribble shooting ability to be a high level point guard in the league, which are the traditional avenues to point guard stardom. One of his most logical pathways to success and stardom is the Jimmy Butler path, given his physicality and size. However, one of the biggest differences between Butler and Castle is that Butler is and always has been a huge foul merchant with FTR > 0.65 every year in college (Castle was 0.38 last year, still relatively high) and continuing that trend of being able to draw fouls at a high rate as a pro in order to prop up his efficiency.

I absolutely hate watching foul baiting, but Chris Paul's signing may have this benefit for Castle, whether intended or unintended, in that it teaches him how to draw fouls more efficiently and making him a more efficient offensive player in spite of his potential shooting struggles moving forward.

[gambit1990]

hoping manu and timmy come out of retirement.

[Brazil]

What to not like about this signing ? Nothing tbh… for 1 year for this price it’s just damn good

[Lebowski Brickowski]

The level of cp jock riding in the last 12 hours is insane from this fan base. Top 10 hated player in my opinion for Spurs Fan. Yeah -- if he balls out and brings this team together , I'll be the first to cheer him on. But right now, before he's done anything except bitch, flop, and cheapshot Spurs teams, y'all are all sluts. I heard Derek Fisher is looking for a bj, ERRR, contract, if anyone is interested.

ray allen
derek fisher
ZaZa
nephew
karl malone
jason terry
cp??
(insert mike d'antoni for laughs)

[GAustex]

The level of cp jock riding in the last 12 hours is insane from this fan base. Top 10 hated player in my opinion for Spurs Fan. Yeah -- if he balls out and brings this team together , I'll be the first to cheer him on. But right now, before he's done anything except bitch, flop, and cheapshot Spurs teams, y'all are all sluts. I heard Derek Fisher is looking for a bj, ERRR, contract, if anyone is interested.

ray allen
derek fisher
ZaZa
nephew
karl malone
jason terry
cp??
(insert mike d'antoni for laughs)
This^

[Obstructed_View]

The level of cp jock riding in the last 12 hours is insane from this fan base. Top 10 hated player in my opinion for Spurs Fan. Yeah -- if he balls out and brings this team together , I'll be the first to cheer him on. But right now, before he's done anything except bitch, flop, and cheapshot Spurs teams, y'all are all sluts. I heard Derek Fisher is looking for a bj, ERRR, contract, if anyone is interested.

ray allen
derek fisher
ZaZa
nephew
karl malone
jason terry
cp??
(insert mike d'antoni for laughs)
Dude, I'm old. This team was bad literally one year during the 35 years I've been a fan before the post-Timmy suckiness. Vic is here. I want him to do well. Chris Paul for half a season is not the worst thing ever.

[jeebus]

The level of cp jock riding in the last 12 hours is insane from this fan base. Top 10 hated player in my opinion for Spurs Fan. Yeah -- if he balls out and brings this team together , I'll be the first to cheer him on. But right now, before he's done anything except bitch, flop, and cheapshot Spurs teams, y'all are all sluts. I heard Derek Fisher is looking for a bj, ERRR, contract, if anyone is interested.

ray allen
derek fisher
ZaZa
nephew
karl malone
jason terry
cp??
(insert mike d'antoni for laughs)

what is this, junior high? who gives a fuck. if he can come in and help the team out, then I'm all for it. then he can leave and become hated again.

[LeBowen]

The level of cp jock riding in the last 12 hours is insane from this fan base. Top 10 hated player in my opinion for Spurs Fan. Yeah -- if he balls out and brings this team together , I'll be the first to cheer him on. But right now, before he's done anything except bitch, flop, and cheapshot Spurs teams, y'all are all sluts. I heard Derek Fisher is looking for a bj, ERRR, contract, if anyone is interested.

ray allen
derek fisher
ZaZa
nephew
karl malone
jason terry
cp??
(insert mike d'antoni for laughs)

Good list.
I'd add Salah Mejri in there.
Hated that fucker, I'm 100% sure he'd try to injure Wemby if he was still playing.

[SpursFan86]

what is this, junior high? who gives a fuck. if he can come in and help the team out, then I'm all for it. then he can leave and become hated again.

Exactly. It’s not 2008 anymore - who gives a shit about the past. It’s a one year deal; there’s essentially no downside or risk at all. We had Malaki fucking Branham playing point at times last year…I think CP3 will be just fine. Castle and Wemby will both benefit from learning from a top 5 PG of all-time.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

Dude, I'm old. This team was bad literally one year during the 35 years I've been a fan before the post-Timmy suckiness. Vic is here. I want him to do well. Chris Paul for half a season is not the worst thing ever.

Yeah I get it. I'm old too. 37 years as a fan. Allow me my angry old-man rant. Like I said, once he balls out and patfo trades him mid season, I'll remember this fondly (hoping). For now, fuck the guy.

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah I get it. I'm old too. 37 years as a fan. Allow me my angry old-man rant. Like I said, once he balls out and patfo trades him mid season, I'll remember this fondly (hoping). For now, fuck the guy.

Here is the best part: we have a fucking free agent signing to talk about for once. This is so much fun. Waiting for Lamarcus to make up his mind fucking sucked. This is an absolutely exciting off season. For once we won't be dying waiting for Summer League to start.

[Proxy]

https://i.gifer.com/1cXT.gif

you guys think Oberto will be allowed into the arena given the history of his dirty play on Pual

[KobesAchilles]

I hate him. Not because his literal only playoff career highlight is against the Spurs. For killing the streak with his whining and flopping.
He once lost by 58 against the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs.

[Obstructed_View]

He once lost by 58 against the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs.
Yeah he's for sure a between-the-20s guy. But he does things well. And somehow, for all his lack of playoff success, he's pretty clutch. And he has been a hard worker and clever. If he can teach that shit to the guards, that's going to be amazing. You know Victor is going to learn everything there is to learn from him.

[Obstructed_View]

https://i.gifer.com/1cXT.gif

you guys think Oberto will be allowed into the arena given the history of his dirty play on Pual

I don't know how he's allowed back in the country after that.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

Here is the best part: we have a fucking free agent signing to talk about for once. This is so much fun. Waiting for Lamarcus to make up his mind fucking sucked. This is an absolutely exciting off season. For once we won't be dying waiting for Summer League to start.
Fuck it, I'm in. (fuck cp though)

[Obstructed_View]

Fuck it, I'm in. (fuck cp though)
I feel ya. Pop should bring in Bowen to coach. :lol

[spurraider21]

https://media1.tenor.com/m/f7p4Rk17XgIAAAAd/flop-basketball.gif
yes hes a crybaby with some bad antics

he also knows how to run an effective offense, make sure people know to be in the right position, off ball movement... rotate and compete defensively

[Killakobe81]

Laker fan still salty about no Chris Paul to LA.

Salty?
It was foul but I’m
More bitter about taking Lonzo over Tatum which I argued against even as a Bruin.
I said it was a good get but overpay. No way Mavs lakers etc paying him that at his age …
But it is one year he a great passer

[Chomag]

This is going to be hard because I've never liked him because if his flopping and crying antics but I've always recognized his BBIQ being off the charts and on that end of the game he could provide alot of teaching but hopefully he doesnt teach our young players how to be a flopong whiny batch.

That's one of the many things why Wemby is my favorite player, he never flops

[exstatic]

Good list.
I'd add Salah Mejri in there.
Hated that fucker, I'm 100% sure he'd try to injure Wemby if he was still playing.

The time he got a dunk, and screamed in Pop’s face…

I’d have thought that alone would make him a hero, here.

[wildbill2u]

What this signing shows is that Pop still has a lot of persuasive power to veterans. My guess would've been that Paul would have wanted to go to a championship contender, even if he was gonna agree to ride the bench. I suspect that Pop offered him a last hurrah at starter, but the 11 million is a jaw dropper. I don't think he will have the ability to hang with the other starters in the league after his showing at GS as a bench player.

Guards usually hit a point where their physical ability drops off dramatically and overcomes all that brilliant BBIQ and past skill sets. I bet Paul still thinks he can play at a high level if given the chance. But it will be an interesting experiment and if it works just imagine the gnashing of teeth of all the Pop haters.

I don't know if this is a win for the Spurs as much as it is a win/win for Pop and the FO. If Paul can't play at an acceptable level they can say we bought a great veteran mentor for 11Million. If he can play at all better than our current crop of guards for a few minutes a game, that is a winner as well.

[MultiTroll]

https://i.gifer.com/1cXT.gif

you guys think Oberto will be allowed into the arena given the history of his dirty play on Pual
Rack it.
We should get a compilation of the shit Chrissy Paul has pulled.

[Spurminator]

5) There’s also a chance that the Spurs could profit by dealing Paul at the trade deadline to a contender. If he looks like a bona fide starter, a desperate contender could give San Antonio an offer they can’t refuse.

Wouldn't be surprised at all if this was part of Pop's sales pitch to CP3.

You can join a potential title contender now before the season even starts. Or... you can wait half a season, play starters minutes to drive your value up, and we'll let you have a say on which team you want to go to based on how things are looking in February and which teams come calling.

I have a hard time believing ringless Paul signed up for a full season with a noncontender. He'll be somewhere else in March.

[Darkwaters]

What this signing shows is that Pop still has a lot of persuasive power to veterans. My guess would've been that Paul would have wanted to go to a championship contender, even if he was gonna agree to ride the bench. I suspect that Pop offered him a last hurrah at starter, but the 11 million is a jaw dropper. I don't think he will have the ability to hang with the other starters in the league after his showing at GS as a bench player.

Guards usually hit a point where their physical ability drops off dramatically and overcomes all that brilliant BBIQ and past skill sets. I bet Paul still thinks he can play at a high level if given the chance. But it will be an interesting experiment and if it works just imagine the gnashing of teeth of all the Pop haters.

I don't know if this is a win for the Spurs as much as it is a win/win for Pop and the FO. If Paul can't play at an acceptable level they can say we bought a great veteran mentor for 11Million. If he can play at all better than our current crop of guards for a few minutes a game, that is a winner as well.

If it doesn't work out then so what?

He's on a one year deal. Just let him walk in 2025.

We still have Tre that can play PG and hopefully Castle too.

[timvp]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if this was part of Pop's sales pitch to CP3.

You can join a potential title contender now before the season even starts. Or... you can wait half a season, play starters minutes to drive your value up, and we'll let you have a say on which team you want to go to based on how things are looking in February and which teams come calling.

I have a hard time believing ringless Paul signed up for a full season with a noncontender. He'll be somewhere else in March.

Sounds likely, yeah.

[spurraider21]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if this was part of Pop's sales pitch to CP3.

You can join a potential title contender now before the season even starts. Or... you can wait half a season, play starters minutes to drive your value up, and we'll let you have a say on which team you want to go to based on how things are looking in February and which teams come calling.

I have a hard time believing ringless Paul signed up for a full season with a noncontender. He'll be somewhere else in March.
maybe. the one that makes me laugh is the buyout talk. as if we'd sign somebody to a 1 year deal just to buy him out to help him get to a contender. would just be the spurs giving welfare to some unnamed contender

[TD 21]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if this was part of Pop's sales pitch to CP3.

You can join a potential title contender now before the season even starts. Or... you can wait half a season, play starters minutes to drive your value up, and we'll let you have a say on which team you want to go to based on how things are looking in February and which teams come calling.

I have a hard time believing ringless Paul signed up for a full season with a noncontender. He'll be somewhere else in March.

Which is why the handwringing over lack of Castle at PG minutes is nonsense.

Between what you said, the possibility Paul sits one end of back to backs and his being injury prone, this could easily end up as 40somethingish games.

[rjv]

nice summary, timvp, but apparently you don't read any of ST's insider posts. it's a foregone conclusion in these parts that Nuñez is never coming over.

[widowmaker]

People have really drank a good dose of the CP3 kool-aid.

The dude is washed up.

[Knoxxx]

Paul is a dirty trickster but we just spent most of a whole season getting dirty trickstered

[T Park]

If Chris Paul is dealt in February something has gone wrong with the season

[adonis827]

Reminded me of the MVPau signing. About three years too late.

Andre Miller is more apt.

[DPG21920]

CP is so washed timvp couldn’t even come up with 12 thoughts :lol

[Chomag]

I just had a starnge thought...

What if Pop convinced CP3 to sign with the Spurs because he promised him the HC job here when Pop hangs it up? Yeah, I should probably not be posting at 1 am and go to bed.

[lefty]

yeeesh some Spurs fans here hate every non Spur lol

« I hate Paul! »

Grow up

[Spurs9]

Paul is a dirty trickster but we just spent most of a whole season getting dirty trickstered

He helps us bring the nasty again

[Spurminator]

If Chris Paul is dealt in February something has gone wrong with the season

Guess it depends on what qualifies as going wrong. If the Spurs somehow find themselves in Playoff contention, maybe you keep him, but I don't see that unless there's another big signing or trade (which I'm hoping for but not expecting). The West is stacked. If it's looking like another Lottery season, might as well get a 2RP at worst for Paul, he's not coming back next year.

[VBM]

That's one of the many things why Wemby is my favorite player, he never flops

Guess you never owned a Manu jersey.

[exstatic]

If Chris Paul is dealt in February something has gone wrong with the season

It looks like they gave him an out for a buyout by making his salary less than the MLE,so why wouldn’t there have been discussions about a possible trade?

[Mr. Body]

It's a great idea for CP. He gets to see where the league landscape goes to see if someone will need him, get time on the court with young players plus the next huge thing, and get immense good guy cred for the whole story of it

[DR_Admiral]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if this was part of Pop's sales pitch to CP3.

You can join a potential title contender now before the season even starts. Or... you can wait half a season, play starters minutes to drive your value up, and we'll let you have a say on which team you want to go to based on how things are looking in February and which teams come calling.

I have a hard time believing ringless Paul signed up for a full season with a noncontender. He'll be somewhere else in March.

Good stuff. I can see this happening. Spurs get half a season for the youngsters to see how a future HoF point guard operates, Paul gets to stay sharp, and when the time comes, trade him.

[spurraider21]

Reminded me of the MVPau signing. About three years too late.


Andre Miller is more apt.
kinda. difference is the spurs signed MVPau and Andre Miller when they were still vying to be a contender and were counting on those guys providing playoff impact. i dont think Paul has the same expectations here. those spurs needed players, not just teachers


If Chris Paul is dealt in February something has gone wrong with the season
i mean... yes and no? i dont know that the expectation this year is playoff or bust. i mean yes ideally there is enough growth to make a push, but going from 22 wins to the 45 or so needed just to qualify for the play-in is a tall task, even with some expected internal improvement.

if the spurs are clearly out of the playoff hunt, then the need for paul to hang around isn't there, and at some point you do want to hand extended reps to the younger guys in an otherwise lost season. you could flip paul on a cheap 11 mil expiring deal to an aspiring contender willing to throw some assets your way

i dont see the spurs buying him out unless that is something that was specifically discussed and basically pre-determined during negotiations.

[Knoxxx]

He helps us bring the nasty again

As the season began and the initial horror unfolded, we saw what a 20-year-old or early 20s NBA player gets subjected to versus the veterans that know all the dirty tricks. Sometimes it was just baffling to see veteran NBA referees also falling for it but just knowing how to draw a foul or avoid a foul and those types of things you don’t come into the NBA versed in all that.

As our guys learned more about that and Wemby became more dominant, we were about a .500 team the last 3rd of the season. Also post all star break the league realized the pendulum had swung to far as we have noted and discussed.

So yes we need more talent but yes we also have some decent talent that just needs to develop.

Edit: for the uninitiated, after the all-star break, the league supposedly decided the pendulum had swung to far in favor of offense, and as I understood it ticky tack fouls showed a measurable decline. The kind where the offensive player is purely trying to draw a foul or something to that effect. They stopped getting so many of those calls.

But dirty tricks like hooking your opponent's arm and making the refs think they grabbed you, not sure the refs will ever figure that one out.

[paperboy77]

Gonna be good for the Spurs. By accepting this deal he seems to have been humbled in a way. Because of this I can see him completely motivated and playing for the love of the game. I bet if the guy can cut 10-15 pounds this summer he'll be so much better this season. Exciting times.!

[Obstructed_View]

No way Paul signs with the Spurs without a promise to trade him to a contender at the deadline. If the season goes really well and they look like they can actually make some noise is the only thing that might keep him in town.

[Spurminator]

i dont see the spurs buying him out unless that is something that was specifically discussed and basically pre-determined during negotiations.

Dumb question probably, but in a buyout you just pay the rest of the contract right? If that's the case, the only downside of a buyout on a one-year deal would be that you don't get a full season of Paul, which by March may not mean anything anyway. I'd bet that was part of the negotiation... "Even if no one will trade anything for you, we'll buy you out."

[bigfan]

I remember years ago in an interview he said he had wanted to play for Pop sometime in his career, I think this is a smart move by both the Paul and the Spurs. I remember Mo Cheeks and John Lucas both did pretty good late in their careers here.

[Obstructed_View]

Dumb question probably, but in a buyout you just pay the rest of the contract right? If that's the case, the only downside of a buyout on a one-year deal would be that you don't get a full season of Paul, which by March may not mean anything anyway. I'd bet that was part of the negotiation... "Even if no one will trade anything for you, we'll buy you out."
You don't have to buy out a guy on a one year deal, do you? You just waive him. If he clears waivers, he's a free agent.

[Spurminator]

I think he's gone in March unless we're somehow in the hunt for a top 4 seed, which would be a miracle.

[Knoxxx]

Gonna be good for the Spurs. By accepting this deal he seems to have been humbled in a way. Because of this I can see him completely motivated and playing for the love of the game. I bet if the guy can cut 10-15 pounds this summer he'll be so much better this season. Exciting times.!

Paul signing has grown on me. The suggestion he starts was barf emoji at first, but then again we don't need another Sochan PG disaster for Castle. This makes sense to ease him into the role.

As far as the humbling part, the man is 39 years old so it's not like teams should be banging his door down, he has a foot out of the league at this point and should be thankful for each day in the NBA he has left. I think this also brings his career earnings to $400 million, he can afford to do whatever he wants.

[Spurminator]

You don't have to buy out a guy on a one year deal, do you? You just waive him. If he clears waivers, he's a free agent.

Maybe but if your handshake deal stipulates that he gets to pick his team, the waivers thing could be a big enough "if" to go ahead and promise a buyout.

[spurraider21]

Dumb question probably, but in a buyout you just pay the rest of the contract right? If that's the case, the only downside of a buyout on a one-year deal would be that you don't get a full season of Paul, which by March may not mean anything anyway. I'd bet that was part of the negotiation... "Even if no one will trade anything for you, we'll buy you out."
no, youre right. sometimes they will negotiate some reduced amount, hence a buyout and not just waiving. or you add offsetting language. all that would do is help a contending over the cap/tax team to pick up him for "free" afterwards. why would the spurs engage in charity that way? then again its been noted that his pay being lower than the MLE means even teams above the first apron can pick him up as a buyout. if he was making 13 instead of 11... they wouldnt be able to. so the salary could be indicative of that intent

[Spurminator]

why would the spurs engage in charity that way?

I guess if you assume it's part of the handshake agreement, it wouldn't be charity, it would be the terms of getting the deal done.

[Obstructed_View]

Maybe but if your handshake deal stipulates that he gets to pick his team, the waivers thing could be a big enough "if" to go ahead and promise a buyout.
You can trade for a conditional second round pick and cash. I just don't see the point of a buyout, though it may be part of the rules.

[The Truth #6]

I'm not sure anyone will want him, but maybe?

[Lebowski Brickowski]

I'm not sure anyone will want him, but maybe?

If he can figure out how to really play with Vic, he's gonna look good, maybe even really good.

[Degoat]

People have been talking about great this is for Wemby, I think CP3 will be spoon feeding Sochan a ton since teams won’t be focusing in on him

[John B]

People have been talking about great this is for Wemby, I think CP3 will be spoon feeding Sochan a ton since teams won’t be focusing in on him

CP3 will be good for everybody, just doing things right, calling out as player coach. They need to make sharp cuts and take advantage of people focused on Wemby while CP3 finds them.

[z0sa]

People have been talking about great this is for Wemby, I think CP3 will be spoon feeding Sochan a ton since teams won’t be focusing in on him

Sochan developing into at minimum, that 3 and D guy who locks the opposing <<whomever>> down every night while shooting 37%+ on wide open threes would go a LONG way for me believing in PATFO again. I hope you're right.

It's possible our team composition has been a bit out of whack, but Sochan's also got to step up the plate and nail his open looks. At this point, I don't care about the hitch. We're in the weeds, and Sochan has to play in his role in shooting us out of them. Otherwise, get rid of him. It's not worth it, even if he's a character guy, because none of the other contenders will possess a comparable weak link.

[eDizzle20]

Regardless of what happens the remainder of the offseason the signing of CP3 might have the biggest impact. He'll go back to starting and be the unquestionable point guard. The offense no doubt will be run much better than it has in a number of years.

[4lifecowboy]

For Paul I believe he jumped at the opportunity so quickly , obviously to play with Wemby, but also getting a internship under Pop. I could definitely see Paul going into coaching post career. Maybe even taking over for Pop eventually.

[szkorhetz]

For Paul I believe he jumped at the opportunity so quickly , obviously to play with Wemby, but also getting a internship under Pop. I could definitely see Paul going into coaching post career. Maybe even taking over for Pop eventually.
Exactly what I believe.

[Ocotillo]

I had the same thought about maybe Paul stepping in for Pop as well but then I recalled, while he has helped the younger teams he has been on recently, he is the sort of guy that grates on you over the long haul (think Avery Johnson and Jason Kidd). Having said that, if they have any inkling of bringing him in as the next head coach, Wemby should get the final say.

[benefactor]

If he can figure out how to really play with Vic, he's gonna look good, maybe even really good.
There isn't going to be much to figure out. He's literally one of the best lob passers in NBA history. It's going to be a beautiful music from the jump.

[benefactor]

Think about what we endured watching all of Wembys teammates ignore him. We are about to see the exact opposite. He's going to show him how to run a proper pick and roll and they are going to destroy teams at the rim over and over again. He will pass it to him at the rim. He will find him open for three. He will hold the other kids accountable. I'm not saying they're going to be any kind of contender or even a playoff team, but they will be much better.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

There isn't going to be much to figure out. He's literally one of the best lob passers in NBA history. It's going to be a beautiful music from the jump.
Mostly agree. I guess I meant more along the lines of if/when CP brings out the best in Wemby's game, Wemby is going to make CP look good enough to get trade traction mid-year.

[exstatic]

i dont see the spurs buying him out unless that is something that was specifically discussed and basically pre-determined during negotiations.

Someone pointed out that by bringing his salary in just below the MLE, if he’s waived, he can sign with anyone, even apron teams. Somehow, I don’t think that was an accident.

[exstatic]

There isn't going to be much to figure out. He's literally one of the best lob passers in NBA history. It's going to be a beautiful music from the jump.

He will have to adjust to throwing it up to 12”, and not 11”, so that only Wemby can get it. That would be higher than the Lob City days.

[Spurs Homer]

Think about what we endured watching all of Wembys teammates ignore him. We are about to see the exact opposite. He's going to show him how to run a proper pick and roll and they are going to destroy teams at the rim over and over again. He will pass it to him at the rim. He will find him open for three. He will hold the other kids accountable. I'm not saying they're going to be any kind of contender or even a playoff team, but they will be much better.

This.

Also, it will be imperative to have disciplined accurate shooters on the perimeter that Paul can pass out to - should the p/roll/lob be properly defended.

[slick'81]

Think about what we endured watching all of Wembys teammates ignore him. We are about to see the exact opposite. He's going to show him how to run a proper pick and roll and they are going to destroy teams at the rim over and over again. He will pass it to him at the rim. He will find him open for three. He will hold the other kids accountable. I'm not saying they're going to be any kind of contender or even a playoff team, but they will be much better.


cp3 is going to feed wemby until hes full