Los Angeles Clippers Likely Re-Signing Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs Could Be In Play

With the end of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2017 season comes questions surrounding the future of their two stars. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin both have the opportunity to opt out of their contracts and become free agents this summer, making them available to sign with any team in the league.

When it comes to Paul, there appears to be two options that make the most sense. The point guard could re-sign with the Clippers or head to the San Antonio Spurs.

Remaining in L.A. is far and away the most likely option. The Clippers can offer him a five-year deal worth $205 million, and no one else has the ability to give Paul that much money, according to the rules of the CBA. ESPN.com’s Kevin Arnovitz has reported that sources say the Clippers expect to bring Paul back for the 2017-2018 season.

The Clippers have been a perennial playoff team since they traded for Paul prior to the start of the lockout-shortened 2011-2012 season. With six straight postseason appearances, L.A. has won more than 50 games in every 82-game season, finishing no worse than second place in the Pacific Division.

That regular-season success, however, has not translated to the playoffs. After being eliminated with a Game 7 loss at home by the Utah Jazz in this year’s first round, Paul and the Clippers still haven’t even reached the conference finals. The point guard’s 76 career postseason games are the most in history by any player that’s never made it beyond the second round.

As Paul heads into his 13th NBA season, there is a prevailing school of thought that he’ll never get his chance to win a title by staying in L.A. Enter the San Antonio Spurs, who will have the capability to sign Paul and give him a legitimate shot at reaching the NBA Finals.

No franchise has achieved more success than the Spurs over the last two decades. Under arguably the greatest head coach in NBA history, San Antonio has won at least 50 games in every full season since 1998, reaching six NBA Finals and winning five titles. With MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard and five-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge on the roster, they should be title contenders for years to come.

San Antonio has finished second behind only the Golden State Warriors for the league’s best record in each of the last two years, averaging 64 victories.

Despite all their success, however, the Spurs might need Paul as much as the future Hall of Famer needs them. Once among the best point guards in basketball, Tony Parker is past his prime. San Antonio’s backcourt was exposed when they were upset in the second round of last year’s postseason, and they could have trouble getting beyond the Houston Rockets in the 2017 conference semifinals.

Even if they make it to a series against the Warriors, the Spurs will probably be overmatched by Golden State’s star-studded roster. They likely need to add another big piece in order to compete with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Co.

The biggest issue, of course, is the amount of money that San Antonio would be able to give Paul. The veteran might have to leave close to $70 million on the table to join the Spurs, making a union between the two sides a difficult one to form.

As unlikely as it might appear, a departure from L.A. certainly can’t be ruled out. Few expected LeBron James to leave the Miami Heat in 2014, and Durant was expected to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder last offseason.

Paul has two months to decide if he still wants to try to win with Clippers or if the team’s current championship window has closed.