According to the daily NBA round-up by Basketball Insiders Writer Steve Kyler, the Clippers and Chris Paul have already verbally agreed to a new over $200 million max extension when Paul becomes a free agent this summer.
Chris Paul reportedly makes verbal agreement to re-sign with Los Angeles Clippers https://t.co/D8Ujje3g5l pic.twitter.com/shoEmIK6IX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 21, 2017
Chris Paul has been expected for some time to opt out of the final year and $24.6 million of his current contract to cash in on the new collective bargaining agreement and higher salaries. He will likely sign the max, five-year long term extension as what we would assume be the last major deal of his NBA career.
The Clippers have been stuck a notch below true title contention for years now and although it may be tempting to blow it up, there is absolutely no reason not to do whatever they can to retain the best point guard of his generation. At 31 he is still clearly in his prime and playing elite level basketball in spite of his increasing injuries over the last season and a half.
Paul is averaging 17.5 points and 9.6 assists on 47 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from three in 36 games this season.
With Paul and Jordan locked up, it will be interesting to see if the Clippers lock up Blake Griffin and move forward with this core for the foreseeable future or decide to move on from Griffin and surround Paul and Jordan with more shooters and young athleticism to spread the floor.
Paul has the smarts and skill set to be effective late into his 30s, which makes an over $200 million commitment more than worth it.
