One of the loftier point guard targets of the offseason for the Chicago Bulls could be the Phoenix Suns veteran star, Chris Paul. It would be great if the Bulls could get Paul for at least one season, but that is no easy feat. The situation with CP3 largely hinges on his intent to stay with the Suns. He has one more year on his current contract.
But Paul would have to exercise the player option to opt-in to the final year of his contract. Or, he could want a trade from the Suns, and then he could either opt-in to the final year of his contract elsewhere or sign a new one completely.
The options for CP3 this summer are abundant. Where he plays next season is almost totally in his control, and deservedly so. His title window is closing fast, and it’s a shame for him that he wasn’t able to get that elusive first title of his career this year.
CP3 and the Suns were downed by Giannis Antetkounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the NBA Finals this week. That was the closest CP3 got to winning a title yet. And he’s likely going to try to put himself in the best situation one more time to make a run at a title again next season.
Viability of the Chicago Bulls going after Chris Paul
Could the team he chooses be one like the Bulls?
Maybe.
The real question here would be if the Bulls’ supporting cast would be good enough with CP3 in the mix to open up the title window. It’s hard to scoff at a big three that features the likes of CP3, star center Nikola Vucevic, and first-time All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine.
It does make sense that the Bulls would be one of the suitors trying to land CP3 this summer. It would take moving other assets for the Bulls to free up the necessary cap space to sign/trade for CP3, but it would be worth it for the front office to act on this.
But what other teams could also be vying to land CP3 this summer?
One team that looks to be making a run at CP3 this summer is the Los Angeles Lakers. CP3 could certainly be an option for the Lakers if nothing works out to get someone like Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose this summer.
Lakers are seeking a vet PG, and Chris Paul is on their list, per @MarcJSpears
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 21, 2021
Russell Westbrook is also a candidate 👀 pic.twitter.com/abkFczR355
It is clear that the Lakers are looking to move on from point guard Dennis Schroder this offseason. And there are some discussions that have Schroder as a point guard target of the Bulls heading into next season.
Landing CP3 would take the Bulls to a new level this offseason, albeit the odds are slim that this move happens. If CP3 is available, the Bulls should be one of the first teams hitting the phones to see what it would take to get him from the Suns.
The 11-time All-Star selection and future Hall-of-Famer CP3 would only be an option for the Bulls at the one for a year or two. But that could open up the Bulls’ title contention window right away, which would likely appease the fans and the front office.