GETTY Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during an opening night game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, Chris Paul is the interest of many NBA teams this offseason: the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Knicks are believed to have the interest of parting ways with Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina to acquire Paul and Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo is believed to want to pair with CP3.
Million Dollar Question: What about CP3 actually staying in OKC?
“I like him Oklahoma City,” Antonio Daniels told me on Heavy Live With Scoop B.
“If – it depends on the direction that you’re trying to go, you know? And it makes you think because they offered Billy Donovan a 2-year deal prior to even going in the bubble and he turned that deal down. And it kind of makes you question the conversation that was had. Was it a conversation basically saying that we have reached the ceiling of this Oklahoma City roster? What we’re gonna do is we’re going to take a wrecking ball to this roster starting with Chris Paul; Danilo Gallinari is a free agent, maybe Steven Adams and we’re going to start over with the assets that we received in the Paul George deal. To now as opposed to retooling, now you’re rebuilding and I don’t like Chris Paul in a rebuilding situation.”
An NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999, Antonio Daniels is now retired from playing in the NBA after a 13-year NBA career. Currently, Daniels is a New Orleans Pelicans color commentator and Sirius XM NBA Radio host.
He and Chris Paul were once teammates, too.
NEW ORLEANS – FEBRUARY 04: Chris Paul #3 talks with Antonio Daniels #50 of the New Orleans Hornets during the game against the Chicago Bulls on February 4, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
While on Heavy Live With Scoop B, Daniels discussed the Thunder’s future and Daniels says that it starts by figuring out what’s next with CP3. “I don’t like him in a rebuilding situation,” Daniels told Heavy Live With Scoop B.
“I love him in a contending situation; I think that he deserves a better outro than to be put in a position to lead – to have to be heroic every single night at his age with all that he’s accomplished. But, he’s also still good enough to be a difference from a team that is a ‘borderline contending playoff team’ he could be the difference between making them a championship team.”
A Wake Forest product, Chris Paul averaged 17.6 points, 5 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.6 steals in the regular season for an Oklahoma City Thunder team that exceeded expectations this season. Paul helped guide the Thunder to a 44-28 record and fifth place finish in the NBA’s Western Conference standings.