Chicago Bulls: Projecting starting 5 if they trade for Chris Paul

Chicago Bulls starting point guard: Chris Paul

It would be difficult for the Bulls to go any other way than starting Paul at the one if they invested so much into taking on his lofty contract and sending so much to the Thunder to get him in a trade. CP3 also had a big 2019-20 rebound season after the Houston Rockets traded him to OKC for a return of Russell Westbrook last offseason.

Paul got his 10th career NBA All-Star selection during the 2019-20 campaign. He’s also a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, six-time steals champ, four-time assists champ, nine-time All-NBA selection, the 2012-13 All-Star Game MVP, and the 2005-06 Rookie of the Year honoree. Paul definitely deserved to reach double-digit All-Star nods in the season that was for the Thunder.

In 70 games played during the shortened 2019-20 regular season for the Thunder, Paul started in every outing and really helped to spark this team. He averaged 17.6 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks. Paul shot a stellar 48.9 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 90.7 percent from the free-throw line.

It’s hard to imagine that putting Paul in a starting five in the East with a good amount of quality young talent around him that the Bulls wouldn’t at least be able to get into the playoffs as between a five and eight seed. Paul gives them a legitimate boost on both ends of the floor, and showed during the 2019-20 season that he still has a lot left in the tank.