Chicago Bulls Rumors: Chris Paul would be a perfect fit
As the Chicago Bulls plot their offseason, it has become clear that the team will target the point guard position this summer as the front office believes that a veteran point guard is the final piece to plug into a starting lineup that already includes Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
At the trade deadline this past season, the Bulls were reportedly in talks with the New Orleans Pelicans regarding a potential trade for point guard Lonzo Ball. Trade talks between the Bulls and Pelicans broke down but there is a belief that the Bulls will once again pursue Ball this offseason. Ball is a restrictive free agent this summer and that means that the Pelicans would have an opportunity to match any offer sheet that the point guard signs.
While Ball would be an ideal fit for the Bulls and their system under head coach Billy Donovan, a more intriguing option may have become available this week in the form of Phoenix Suns’ point guard Chris Paul.
Paul and the Suns just handed LeBron James is first-career exit from the NBA Playoffs in the first round. The Suns, who are the second seed in the NBA Western Conference playoffs, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and moved on to the second round of the playoffs.
Chris Paul is the perfect veteran for the Chicago Bulls to add at the point guard position this offseason.
Earlier this week, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report reported that Paul is planning on opting out of his current contract with the Suns.
"Paul has a $44.4 million player option, which according to several sources, he intends to decline with hopes of inking a new multiyear deal (perhaps in the $100 million range over three seasons)."
The exact amount of salary cap space that the Bulls will have available to them this off-season is not entirely known at this point in time but, according to NBC Sports Chicago, there is a path to which the Bulls could have approximately $36.9 million in cap space available. Meaning, if the Bulls were to be interested in Paul, they would need to get creative.
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The need for creativity shouldn’t deter the Bulls from pursuing Paul this offseason if he does indeed hit the free agent market. While the Suns would still likely be the favorites to re-sign Paul, the Bulls would be an intriguing destination for the veteran point guard.
Intriguing in the sense that much like Paul was the final piece to the Suns’ becoming a legitimate contender in the Western Conference, he would be the final piece to the Bulls’ becoming a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are in need of a point guard that can facilitate an offensive system that includes offensive superstars in the form of LaVine and Vucevic and there are few point guards in the NBA better at doing than Paul.
Not to mention, Paul does have a couple important ties to the Bulls. Prior to becoming the head coach of the Bulls, Donovan was the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Paul played under Donovan with the Thunder during the 2019-2020 NBA Season. Paul had high praise for Donovan that season and the duo led Oklahoma City to a surprising fifth seed in the Western Conference.
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In addition to Donovan, Paul also has a connection with Bulls’ guard Coby White. White and Paul are close friends and having the veteran on board likely would be an important addition for the development of the Bulls’ 2019 first round pick.
If the Chicago Bulls are truly emphasizing the point guard position this offseason, Chris Paul should be a priority.