The CP3 Thread 18-19 Part 1

[TroubleS0me]

trade bump?

[Dr Spaceman]

Houston was Paul’s last realistic shot at a title and he blew it. That contract makes it basically impossible for any good team to fit him.

[SeniorWalker]

Houston was Paul’s last realistic shot at a title and he blew it. That contract makes it basically impossible for any good team to fit him.

It's possible but I don't think we can really say that.
He may not get bought out now but by next year he will.if hes not already traded. Then he can go to a contender as a smart vet and get his ship.

I say this as someone who has long thought is Paul overrated, borderline disliking him at times.

[Doctor MJ]

Houston was Paul’s last realistic shot at a title and he blew it. That contract makes it basically impossible for any good team to fit him.

It's possible but I don't think we can really say that.
He may not get bought out now but by next year he will.if hes not already traded. Then he can go to a contender as a smart vet and get his ship.

I say this as someone who has long thought is Paul overrated, borderline disliking him at times.

You've got a point that he could plausibly end up on a contender that wins the title, but I agree with Space that Paul really, really blew it.

It frankly reminds me of Michael Jordan in Washington. Both guys knew what they had to do - the individual sacrifices they needed to make to have the best success for their team - and both just couldn't do it.

And of course, it's more damning for Paul. In Jordan's case looking at a GOAT getting old. In Paul's case you're looking at further evidence toward the complaints that kept bubbling up through the years when people asked "Why can't Paul's teams get over the hump?".

[Dr Spaceman]

Houston was Paul’s last realistic shot at a title and he blew it. That contract makes it basically impossible for any good team to fit him.

It's possible but I don't think we can really say that.
He may not get bought out now but by next year he will.if hes not already traded. Then he can go to a contender as a smart vet and get his ship.

I say this as someone who has long thought is Paul overrated, borderline disliking him at times.

You really think a buyout with 2 years/almost $100mm remaining is realistic?

[Dr Positivity]

The Heat with Paul and Butler could be pretty good, although a more likely 2nd round team than contender. Then again that lockerroom would be Iraq

[Doctor MJ]

The Heat with Paul and Butler could be pretty good, although a more likely 2nd round team than contender. Then again that lockerroom would be Iraq

Paul & Butler would be intriguing. There you have two superstars who are super-confrontational and can't get along with people so it should blow up...but wouldn't it be cool if they turned out to be basketball soulmates?

Both are super-intense, maybe they'll like each other.

[MartinToVaught]

The Heat with Paul and Butler could be pretty good, although a more likely 2nd round team than contender. Then again that lockerroom would be Iraq

It would be the worst possible environment for Herro, Winslow, Bam, etc. to try to develop in, too. They'd get screamed at for every mistake and blamed for every loss.

[Doctor MJ]

The Heat with Paul and Butler could be pretty good, although a more likely 2nd round team than contender. Then again that lockerroom would be Iraq

It would be the worst possible environment for Herro, Winslow, Bam, etc. to try to develop in, too. They'd get screamed at for every mistake and blamed for every loss.

Maybe, but the Heat already have an intense effort culture. Given that the pecking order will be so clear cut here - at least between the stars and the others - that might not actually be so bad.

One thing I can't help but think when imagining Paul annoying Harden: It's not like anyone thinks Harden does everything right. I bet Paul points out legit things that Harden just isn't interested in hearing. Doesn't absolve Paul at all - he needed to find a way to make Harden happy - but if I were a young guy just trying to figure out what it took to make it in the NBA, I bet I could learn a lot from Paul.

And of course, same is true of Butler. I think we all know that Wiggins & KAT didn't get along with Butler because they were doing things wrong. Had the two of them been less entrenched in Minny, I bet things go differently.

[Dupp]

Paul’s body already can’t hold up. Riley’s backward ways would completely ruin him.

[Basileus777]

Paul is not getting bought out. It's a complete fantasy. Anyone even talking about a buyout hasn't looked at his contract. Even in 2022 buying out a $44 million contract is going to be a tall order.

[The High Cyde]

I legitimately feel sad for Chris Paul. It is what it is at this point, but I hope he can turn his career around and retire with a ring. Just not looking good right now.

[Dr Spaceman]

I legitimately feel sad for Chris Paul. It is what it is at this point, but I hope he can turn his career around and retire with a ring. Just not looking good right now.

I’m a pretty big Paul fan but it’s clear this is self-inflicted. He gamed the system to get paid crazy money at an age where he doesn’t deserve it. He could be any team’s Al Horford right now (and that contract is more in line with what he’s worth) but no team has room for a 33 year old making $40mm. Imagine what a difference he could make on LAL.

It’s clear that money is the main motivation for Paul, secondary to competitiveness. And the thing is he could have had both in Houston but couldn’t get out of his own way.

[Peregrine01]

I legitimately feel sad for Chris Paul. It is what it is at this point, but I hope he can turn his career around and retire with a ring. Just not looking good right now.

I’m a pretty big Paul fan but it’s clear this is self-inflicted. He gamed the system to get paid crazy money at an age where he doesn’t deserve it. He could be any team’s Al Horford right now (and that contract is more in line with what he’s worth) but no team has room for a 33 year old making $40mm. Imagine what a difference he could make on LAL.

It’s clear that money is the main motivation for Paul, secondary to competitiveness. And the thing is he could have had both in Houston but couldn’t get out of his own way.

It's not greed. It's envy. Paul sees all those other guys getting $40 mm/year contracts and feels he deserves it as well.

[Dr Spaceman]

I legitimately feel sad for Chris Paul. It is what it is at this point, but I hope he can turn his career around and retire with a ring. Just not looking good right now.

I’m a pretty big Paul fan but it’s clear this is self-inflicted. He gamed the system to get paid crazy money at an age where he doesn’t deserve it. He could be any team’s Al Horford right now (and that contract is more in line with what he’s worth) but no team has room for a 33 year old making $40mm. Imagine what a difference he could make on LAL.

It’s clear that money is the main motivation for Paul, secondary to competitiveness. And the thing is he could have had both in Houston but couldn’t get out of his own way.

It's not greed. It's envy. Paul sees all those other guys getting $40 mm/year contracts and feels he deserves it as well.

Paul as head of the players Union negotiated for the 35% max with 10 years of experience. He is the reason the Supermax exists.

[Senior]

CP3 was this generation's Oscar - brilliant offensive leader with a major hardass side...except he missed on the redemption arc at the end.

Would love to see Oscar's self-reflection on what he needed to do differently when he came to MIL and how he ceded offensive primacy. Might've helped that Kareem was a center and not a guy that played a similar position like Harden to Paul.

[Outside]

I’m a pretty big Paul fan but it’s clear this is self-inflicted. He gamed the system to get paid crazy money at an age where he doesn’t deserve it. He could be any team’s Al Horford right now (and that contract is more in line with what he’s worth) but no team has room for a 33 year old making $40mm. Imagine what a difference he could make on LAL.

It’s clear that money is the main motivation for Paul, secondary to competitiveness. And the thing is he could have had both in Houston but couldn’t get out of his own way.

It's not greed. It's envy. Paul sees all those other guys getting $40 mm/year contracts and feels he deserves it as well.

Paul as head of the players Union negotiated for the 35% max with 10 years of experience. He is the reason the Supermax exists.

Yep. Paul as head of the union took care of himself. He made sure that a player in his exact career position could get massively overpaid.

[SeniorWalker]

Houston was Paul’s last realistic shot at a title and he blew it. That contract makes it basically impossible for any good team to fit him.

It's possible but I don't think we can really say that.
He may not get bought out now but by next year he will.if hes not already traded. Then he can go to a contender as a smart vet and get his ship.

I say this as someone who has long thought is Paul overrated, borderline disliking him at times.

You really think a buyout with 2 years/almost $100mm remaining is realistic?

Maybe not. I think you're most likely correct here so don't take this as me believing in a more likely alternative. I just find it hard to believe that the Paul will languish on a rebuilding team for multiple years. He's one of the faces of the NBA and there's a certain level of politics that goes along with that.

From a pure transactional perspective I agree with you. But because it is Paul, I would be utterly floored if he's there for more than a year.

[SeniorWalker]

The Heat with Paul and Butler could be pretty good, although a more likely 2nd round team than contender. Then again that lockerroom would be Iraq

Paul & Butler would be intriguing. There you have two superstars who are super-confrontational and can't get along with people so it should blow up...but wouldn't it be cool if they turned out to be basketball soulmates?

Both are super-intense, maybe they'll like each other.

I've been following Butler since he entered the league. Butler is one of those super "alpha" leader types, so much so that he would rather play on a bad team if it meant that he gets the limelight and clout. It really, truly is who he is. He only pretends not to be at times so he's not labelled as selfish.

If Paul can't take a backseat in the locker room there would be problems. Its unavoidable as far as I'm concerned.

[Doctor MJ]

The Heat with Paul and Butler could be pretty good, although a more likely 2nd round team than contender. Then again that lockerroom would be Iraq

Paul & Butler would be intriguing. There you have two superstars who are super-confrontational and can't get along with people so it should blow up...but wouldn't it be cool if they turned out to be basketball soulmates?

Both are super-intense, maybe they'll like each other.

I've been following Butler since he entered the league. Butler is one of those super "alpha" leader types, so much so that he would rather play on a bad team if it meant that he gets the limelight and clout. It really, truly is who he is. He only pretends not to be at times so he's not labelled as selfish.

If Paul can't take a backseat in the locker room there would be problems. Its unavoidable as far as I'm concerned.

Well, unless Paul has recently learned that he has to change, he's going to keep being himself.

I think the part that gives me a bit of hope is that Butler seems to like being pushed to do more. He liked working under Thibs after all. It's possible that Butler would actually enjoy having someone like Paul around after dealing with the Wiggins of the world.

I also think that part of the issue with Harden is that Harden does a lot of things wrong. He should try harder on defense, for example. So I imagine Paul peppered Harden about a lot of things that were actually pretty legit and Harden just didn't want to hear it - which is his prerogative. I would see a possibility where Paul expresses sincere admiration for how Butler goes about his business and compares him vocally as being superior to Harden.