NBA Rumors: Chris Paul Trade Stalls, Thunder Ready To Retain Point Guard

Chris Paul joined Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the blockbuster trade that saw Russell Westbrook join James Harden at Houston Rockets. It formed the third super team of the Western Conference after Paul George and Kawhi Leonard teamed up in Los Angeles with the Clippers while Anthony Davis joined LeBron James and the Lakers.

The 34-year-old point guard, who is said to have had a falling out with the “The Beard”, has three years remaining on his $128 million contract and Thunder, who are in the process of rebuilding after trading George and Westbrook, are open to offloading Paul. They have been in talks with Miami Heat, which is supposed to be the player’s preferred destination but talks have stalled in recent days.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that all discussions to trade Paul have come to a standstill and at the moment it increasingly looks like he will stay in Oklahoma for at least one season or at least until the market opens up after Dec. 15. The interest in the veteran point guard has been limited owing to the deal occurring so late in free agency.

Most teams do not possess the cap space to accommodate Paul’s three-year $128 million contract, while players, who signed free agency contracts in the offseason cannot be traded until after Dec. 15. Paul is said to be open to staying with Thunder for one season with both reportedly agreeing that there could be benefits.

“OKC has been working with Paul and his representatives on finding a trade, but nothing is materializing so deep into summer free agency, sources said. Both sides believe there are benefits to Paul, 34, playing out the year with the Thunder,” Wojnarowski wrote.

Despite losing George and Westbrook, the Thunder will have a competitive lineup going into next season with Danilo Gallinari, Steven Adams, Dennis Schroder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was acquired from Houston in the Westbrook trade. The Oklahoma franchise is also hoping Paul can serve as a mentor to second-year guard Alexander, who is seen as the franchise’s future “playmaker”.