I.Q. will always rule:
That Paul is having a resurgent season with the OKC Thunder has only served to raise his profile and value. While the main candidates for Most Valuable Player this season have narrowed to Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, arguably CP3 is among the shortlist of candidates filling out the top five.
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Paul is proving his effect on matches remains among the best in the business and his clutch time dominance cements the fact at 34 (35 next week) his skills are still among the best in the business.
Every team wants a player who can take over when it’s winning time and the other skills most coveted by teams are the ability to guard multiple positions, create shots for teammates and have a positive effect on and off the hardwood.
You would be hard-pressed to find more than a dozen players with that ability in the association and Paul is one of those individuals. If you question his ability to guard players other than point guards go check out the end of the Boston Celtics game when he single-handedly stopped the much taller Jayson Tatum.
Most notable is Paul’s high basketball intelligence. Think of Jason Kidd‘s career and how he was able to still be a factor late into his career. Paul like Kidd has that high I.Q., plus his amazing passing skills and that incredible will to win.
With that prowess in hand and Presti determined to continue the replenish and reposition era it makes zero sense for the GM to send him to the Knicks for a bunch of expiring contracted players.