Getty Chris Paul during a March 11 game against the San Antonio Spurs.
The San Antonio Spurs wasted no time finding Victor Wembanyama a floor general. Chris Paul is joining the team, on a one-year, $11 million deal.
Chris Haynes was first with reports of the agreement.
Free agent star Chris Paul intends to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
“Free agent star Chris Paul intends to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport,” Haynes tweeted on June 30.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski followed Haynes up with the terms of the deal.
Free agent guard Chris Paul has agreed on a one-year, $11 million-plus deal with the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell ESPN.
“Free agent guard Chris Paul has agreed on a one-year, $11 million-plus deal with the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell ESPN,” Wojnarwoski tweeted.
Haynes later wrote that Paul was “sold” by the Spurs on the opportunity to work with Wembanyama, amongst other things.
“Chris Paul had a great talk with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and was sold on the culture and opportunity to help elevate the game of Victor Wembanyama,” Haynes tweeted. “CP is eager and motivated to showcase he’s still an elite guard in this league.”
Paul is coming off of his 19th season, his lone year with the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 58 games with the team.
Wembanyama to Benefit Most From Paul Signing
Wembanyama flashed prodigal, superstar potential in his rookie season. Which is why he was awarded Rookie of the Year.
But next season, he’ll need to string together more than 22 wins. That likely means getting the ball out of his hands, and into a capable playmaker like Paul.
Per Stathead, only 12 players logged 2,000 or more minutes and recorded a 30% or higher usage rate in the regular season.
Wembanyama sits among them, next to household names like Anthony Edwards, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic.
Adding a floor-general like Paul, who ranks third all-time in assists, will open up the floor for Wembanyama. Him being off the ball open up his game as a scorer, after averaging 21.4 points per game.
According to Cleaning the Glass, with starter Tre Jones and Wembanyama on the floor last season, the Spurs scored 114 points per 100 possessions. That ranks in the 43rd percentile.
With anyone else at point guard and Wembanyama on, San Antonio scored 102.6 points per, which ranks in the third percentile.
Jones coming off the bench behind Paul should stabilize the Spurs offense. And in turn, will help Wembanyama’s ascension as a scorer.
Spurs Draft Stephon Castle 4th Overall
Elsewhere on the roster, San Antonio just drafted Stephon Castle fourth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The freshman guard out of University of Connecticut averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Paul will take on a mentor role to Castle, preparing him for a larger role in the offense once he’s gone.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic thinks the 19-year-old pans out as a two-guard, as he’s got much improving to do as an initiator.
“He’s a strong fit with their core and continues to give them added roster flexibility in how they want to build the core around Victor Wembanyama,” Vecenie wrote on June 28. “Castle can be a secondary initiator on the ball and makes high-level passing reads.”
Regardless of his trajectory, Paul will help him along the way. The same goes for Jones, Wembanyama, and other youth on the roster.