NBA Trade Rumors: How Chris Paul Could Land With Miami Heat, OKC Thunder In No Rush To Deal Guard

When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul and two draft picks, there was immediate speculation that the Miami Heat might soon acquire the Thunder’s new point guard. While Paul can be had in the right deal, he might not end up in South Beach for the 2019-2020 NBA season.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst indicated on “SportsCenter” Monday night that Oklahoma City and Miami are not close to making a trade. The Heat reportedly want their 2021 and 2023 first-round draft picks—both of which the Thunder own—back in any Paul trade. According to Windhorst, Oklahoma City is willing to send one of those first-rounders back to Miami, but they want a future Heat pick beyond 2023 in return.

The Thunder don’t seem to be in any kind of rush to trade Paul, whose three-year, $124 million contract won’t be easy to move. Oklahoma City was quick to trade Westbrook after Paul George demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Paul reportedly wants to play for a contender. The Thunder are highly unlikely to compete for a championship for the duration of Paul’s contract, even if the veteran can play at an All-Star level.

Finding a trade partner that won’t demand Oklahoma City to give up draft picks in a Paul trade could be difficult. The veteran hasn’t made an All-Star team or played more than 61 games in three years. Paul averaged a career-low 15.6 points per game last season. He’s owed $38.5 million next year in what will be his 15th NBA season.

Oklahoma City has acquired a treasure trove of draft picks this summer, including Houston’s 2024 and 2026 first-rounders—both are top-four protected—and the right to swap picks with the Rockets in 2021 and 2025. The Thunder are not yet racing to give up any future picks in order to get off of Paul’s contract.

Miami and Oklahoma City had trade talks regarding Westbrook. A deal wasn’t made because the Heat didn’t want to give up a few of their promising young players for an expensive point guard on the wrong side of 30.

Paul is three and a half years older than Westbrook with the same money coming to him over the next three seasons. Miami had designs of pairing Westbrook and Jimmy Butler together.

The Heat don’t seem very motivated to add Paul to their current roster.