In just a few months, the Suns have fallen from championship-level teams to the ranks of fishbelly, showing us the fragility and shortcomings of this team. Ayton, who has always had a stake in ball possession and tactical position, was unable to play his role when Paul and Booker were not present, and beat his face red and swollen with strength. When the projection technique has not improved to a very good height, but instead of making good use of his physical talent, he has played softer and softer, so how can he grow into the core of the team? Why did the Sun give him more tactical position?
Booker was injured and suspended, and after Paul returned from injury, he thought that he could change the decline of the team as before, but he was still unable to return to the sky, and Paul was not the right solution. Having lost twelve of the last fourteen games, the Suns are ahead of the Lakers and may be a serious contender for the Venbanyama? If this continues, this team will completely miss the playoffs; When Paul didn't wake up, the fire burned his eyebrows. It stands to reason that Paul is one of the best mid-range shooters in NBA history, and his athleticism is not too low to sustain the offense.
The 22-23 season has been halfway through, but Paul has suffered another injury, and his hip problem, which has been a cliché, has now become a problem that hinders the team's progress, which is really a bit fatalistic. Not only that, but the team is running out of time for Paul: isn't it? Arizona Sports reporter Duane Rankin broke the news that the Suns have decided to trade Paul in order to get Conley, and the team is willing to send a first-round pick.
So far this season, Paul is averaging 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 42.5% from the field; Compared to last season's performance, Paul showed a downward trend in almost all of his statistics, especially his shooting percentage. Now that he is almost 38 years old, coupled with the injuries he has been carrying, his athletic ability has also declined, and Paul is no longer the omnipotent "St. Paul", which is also the age when he does not accept old age.
From the perspective of commercial returns, Paul is no longer able to support the Suns to get a better record, let alone change the team's decline through his own ability, and it is reasonable to be abandoned. In fact, it is a pity that in his first season with the Suns, he led the team to the finals, which should have been the best time for him to win the championship, but he still failed to seize the opportunity.
Looking back, after the Clippers could not lead the team to win the championship and did not produce results for many years, he was abandoned by the team and came to the Rockets; But after working with Harden, he also had a chance to beat the Warriors, but he still couldn't grasp it, and was eventually traded by Houston to the Thunder. Now he has been waived by the Suns again, and this is the third time he has been abandoned by the team.
The Suns wanted Paul in exchange for Conley of the Jazz, who was also a veteran but healthier than Paul and could replace him with the Suns. And the Jazz? Considering that Paul's contract for the next two years is only partially guaranteed, Paul will be bought out and the two parties will be separated.
Paul's fate is so tragic, in fact, it is inseparable from his character, that is, he is not willing to devote himself to being an auxiliary; It was like this when I worked with Griffin, it didn't change when I joined forces with Harden, and I still have the same habit when I teamed up with Booker today. When the game reaches a critical stage, he will hold the ball firmly instead of handing it to the first hand as a second-in-command, and his paranoid personality cannot get along with the big boss.
And Harden? The 76ers have apparently learned how to get along, giving up the No. 1 position to Embiid and willing to be the green leaf. Perhaps, it's time for Paul to say goodbye and say goodbye to the NBA.