The dilemma: should OKC Thunder keep Chris Paul or move him?
By Rylan Stiles
The OKC Thunder had a huge shakeup this offseason, including shipping off franchise pillar Russell Westbrook. In return Chris Paul arrives but what should OKC do with CP3?
The OKC Thunder are a dramatically different team than they were at the start of the offseason. What looked like a team that was set to run it back, turned almost unrecognizable overnight…well, at least a couple of nights.
In an ironic turn of events, the Thunder traded the face of their franchise, for a man who sparked basketball life into Oklahoma City.
Chris Paul, who is commonly referred to as a “Point God”, spent the first two years of his career in Oklahoma City, a temporary home for the Hornets as they recovered from a devastating hurricane.
This is where CP3 won his rookie of the year award, learned about being a pro and averaged over 16 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals in his two season in Oklahoma City.
The Hornets sparked what turned into a basketball wildfire in Oklahoma City and showed this is a market that deserved to be a team’s home, not just a pit stop on the road to recovery.
Paul speaks fondly of his time in Oklahoma City and within the community as he dazzled the Ford Center floor with his flashy passes and fancy dribble moves.
However, Chris Paul is no longer that spunky 20 year old, he is an aging 34-year old that might not want to spend time with a rebuilding squad.
That presents an interesting question for the organization, and CP3 to discuss. With Paul’s hefty contract how realistic is it to expect to move him? Will the team need to attach assets that could possibly hinder a rebuild? Would Paul even be willing to play and give his all to the Thunder with such an extensive injury history?
If Chris Paul does log a single minute with the Thunder, he will be just the second player to play basketball across both NBA stints in the City’s history. Desmond Mason being the first, playing for the Hornets for both years in OKC, as well as being apart of the inaugural OKC Thunder team.