Insider reports Chris Paul may be on the move: could CP3 help the Nuggets?

The NBA rumor mill is cranking up to full capacity as the offseason gets going. We’re on the verge of the Finals, and in less than a month, draft season, trade season, and free agency will be in full swing. This will only amplify in the coming days and weeks, but we’re already starting to see reports trickling out and tea leaves being read.

On Sunday, long-time NBA reporter Marc Stein dropped a bunch of intel on his substack about the coaching carousel, trade rumors, and some potential impending free agents. One interesting name that Stein mentioned was Chris Paul who has a partially guaranteed contract with the Warriors for next season.

Chris Paul to leave Golden State?

Paul’s $30 million deal will be guaranteed if the Warriors don’t waive him by June 28th. The 39-year-old CP3 is still a very good point guard and he can impact games with his incredible basketball IQ. He can still handle the ball and make plays with the best of them and while much of his speed and athleticism has left him, he can knock down shots and get in the right position on defense.

He is a far cry from the elite floor general of his prime years, but in spot minutes he can still be helpful for a contending team. For all of those reasons, the Warriors may choose to guarantee Paul’s contract and keep him, or they could keep him on the books to use in a future trade. But $30 million for Paul at this stage of his career is a steep price to stomach and there’s a good chance the team chooses to simply waive him and save the money.

What team should sign Chris Paul?

If Paul hits the open market, he would be a bargain for a veteran minimum contract and it would allow him to pick his next team and find a home where he can help try to win an elusive first title. Stein mentioned teams like the Clippers and 76ers, but why not the Nuggets?

CP3 would be the perfect playmaking hub to run the offense for brief stints while Nikola Jokic sits. Even at his advanced age, he’d be the best bench guard they’ve had in years and someone that Michael Malone could definitely trust in a playoff series. There’s no guarantee that Paul would embrace a stint in Denver, but it may be his best chance to earn a ring at this point.