The Phoenix Suns appear dead set on a new direction for their team after parting ways with head coach Monty Williams and bringing in former NBA Champion Nick Nurse to replace him. They weren’t done there with their changes, as they made a huge decision on veteran point guard Chris Paul on Wednesday
Paul has been with the Suns for the last three seasons and played a big role in making the team a contender again. Phoenix made the postseason every season that Paul has been with the team, even making an NBA Finals appearance in the 2020-21 season.
Despite this, the Suns made the shocking decision to part ways with the 12-time All-Star. NBA insider Chris Haynes broke the news on Wednesday that the Suns have notified Paul that he will be waived.
BREAKING: Phoenix Suns have notified star Chris Paul that he will be waived, making the future Hall of Famer one of the top free agents this offseason, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 7, 2023
Paul had one more year left on his contract, so it is somewhat surprising that the team couldn’t at least work out a trade to get something in return. It is not surprising however that Paul won’t be with the Suns. Reports emerged earlier this month that they were looking at potentially trading him.
Many around the NBA world took to social media to offer their opinion on Paul’s incoming release.
BREAKING: The Suns are waiving Chris Paul, per @ChrisBHaynes.
Wow, wow, wow. pic.twitter.com/DBQJYY2zAg
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 7, 2023
BREAKING: Suns waive Chris Paul, per @ChrisBHaynes
WOW. 😳 pic.twitter.com/6bF5vC9CX3
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 7, 2023
Real talk. Thanks for everything Chris Paul. When you helped me make a kid’s dreams come true. You’re a real one.
Helped make my favorite team a winner again.
LEGEND AND HALL OF FAMEEEE HIM pic.twitter.com/Js6tpQKiwb
— andrew leezus (@AndrewLeezus) June 7, 2023
Chris Paul as a Sun:
— 15.1 PPG
— 9.5 APG
— 2x All-Star
— 2x All-NBA
— 23 playoff winsWhere next? pic.twitter.com/pNJKa56FA4
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 7, 2023
David Stern going to be brought back like Emperor Palpatine on Exegol if Chris Paul signs with the Lakers.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) June 7, 2023
The question now remains where will Paul ultimately land now that he is set to be a free agent? The obvious potential destination is with the Los Angeles Lakers considering his close relationship with LeBron James.
However, nobody expected him to end up on the Suns when he signed with them, so there are seemingly a number of potential landing spots on the table for Paul.
