On the first day of the NBA play-offs, the Warriors lost to the Kings, and since then all the games of the season have ended, Curry went home to spend time with his wife and children, and Klay also had a lot of time to go fishing. Sadly, Paul, a new recruit this season, wanted to take advantage of the Warriors' ride to rush to the championship. However, he couldn't even make the playoffs, so Paul became a new member who had not won a championship for 19 consecutive years, and he was joined by Karl Malone and Stockton, the third oldest in history.
The first two are also well-known figures. Carter, a demigod who played 22 seasons, is the first in history, and Jamal Crawford, who played 20 seasons, is the same. Another record, also broken by the Warriors, was Paul missing the playoffs for the first time since playing in the 2009-10 season.
The former Paul was the guarantee of the playoffs, and even if he took over the weak team Thunder, he also made the playoffs. Joined the Suns and took advantage of the situation to the finals. came to the Warriors and played as a bench for the first time in his career, which is indeed the end. The veterans of the Warriors really made Paul Sr. feel a little chilled.
Paul Sr. is doing his best for the Warriors, bringing the bench to the transition and creating enough rest time for Curry. At the end of the season, Warriors coach Kerr had a very high opinion of Paul: "Because of Paul's leadership, our performance in the time period when Curry is off the court this season is the best ever, he is very professional, and we hope to bring him back next season!"
Paul played in 58 regular-season games for the Warriors this season, averaging 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 26.4 minutes per game while shooting 44.1% from the field, 37.1% from three-point range and 82.7% from the free throw line. Paul's $30.8 million contract expires this season and his $30 million contract for next season is non-guaranteed.
If the Warriors want Paul back, it's very difficult. That would have to pay a hefty luxury tax, which is contrary to Lacob's money-saving strategy. According to salary expert Bobby Marks, the Warriors spent $382.5 million on building a roster this season. Among them, the player's salary is 205.6 million, and the luxury tax is 176.9 million.
Kerr also said in an interview: "Personally, I feel like we've spent so much wages this season, but it doesn't make sense. It just doesn't make sense. Lacob has always been very generous, he has spent so much money, he has always been desperate to go for the championship. But in a way, you can't spend that much money on a team that doesn't make the playoffs. So we have a lot of decisions to make and a lot of questions to answer. ”
By July of this year, the Warriors will have to make a choice whether or not Paul and Looney's contracts are to be fully guaranteed. Looney is not too expensive, only 8 million. Paul is 30 million, and there is a high probability that he will not be able to renew. Because if it is all transferred, the Warriors' luxury tax has already reached the target, and the $174 million has exceeded the 171 million threshold, which is still without renewing Klay's contract.
Therefore, some experts say that Paul is likely to leave the Warriors.
Two days ago, Paul's old teammate Griffin officially announced his retirement, and it has been 10 years since the empty city in 2014. What Paul wants most now is to go to a championship team at the end of his career, whether it is a starter or a substitute. Fulfill the dream of a championship, and in the O'Brien Cup, with Chris Paul's name, it can be regarded as living up to this 19-year career.