Chris Paul agrees to 4-year contract with Phoenix Suns, per report
Aug 2, 2021, 3:51 PM | Updated: 7:55 pm
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates with teammates Deandre Ayton #22 and Chris Paul #3 following the team's series win against the LA Clippers in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Point guard Chris Paul wants to continue title chasing with the Phoenix Suns and on Monday agreed with the NBA Finals runner-ups on a four-year contract worth up to $120 million, reports Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Paul confirmed his return with posts on social media later that evening.
Run it back ☀️ pic.twitter.com/wOjynkMBXV
— Chris Paul (@CP3) August 3, 2021
Paul elected against picking up the one-year player option that would pay him $44 million in 2021-22 before reaching free agency. However, it appears he took little time choosing to re-join a Suns team that finished last season with the second-best record before making its first Finals appearance since 1993.
The 36-year-old now has long-term stability in what will likely be his last significant NBA contract.
Paul played 70 games during the regular season, averaging 16.4 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and 8.9 assists. He made Second Team All-NBA and the All-Star team.
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In the playoffs, he battled a shoulder injury in the first round, missed two games after testing positive for COVID-19 in the Western Conference Finals, then battled wrist and finger issues over the course of the final two series.
Phoenix went ahead 2-0 on the Milwaukee Bucks in the Finals before the Suns lost four games in a row to fall short of the franchise’s first championship.
Paul averaged 19.2 points and 8.6 assists in 20 postseason games as he made his first career Finals appearance. He shot 50% from the floor and 45% from three-point range in the playoffs.
Phoenix acquired the veteran point guard before this past season, trading Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In Paul’s first season with Phoenix, the Suns returned to the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. They finished the regular season with a 51-21 record.
With Paul now locked in, attention turns to Phoenix’s other free agents.
The Suns reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with backup point guard Cam Payne while forward Torrey Craig is reportedly in agreement with the Indiana Pacers.
The Suns also have the next few months to extend fourth-year pros Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges beyond their rookie deals. Doing so would keep them from reaching restricted free agency next offseason.
