The Chicago Bulls need to acquire a starting-level point guard this NBA offseason since Lonzo Ball (left knee surgery) is expected to miss the entire 2023-24 season, and Jack Simone of Bulls Wire believes the franchise should take a look at Phoenix Suns veteran Chris Paul.
The Suns are likely to guarantee the full salary of Paul for the 2023-24 season, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report. However, that doesn’t mean the future Hall of Famer can’t be traded if a good deal is available to Phoenix.
“A trade for Chris Paul would have to include Ball, (Alex) Caruso, and another smaller contract. However, it would give the Bulls an elite playmaker to run their offense,” Simone wrote. “Obviously, at 38 years old, Paul is a shell of his former self. But he’d still be an immediate upgrade to the Bulls’ point guard position.
“And considering the Phoenix Suns are looking to make significant changes this summer, they may be open to a deal. If Chicago gives up Ball, Caruso, and someone else, they could even get back some seconds in a potential trade for Paul.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns & Chicago Bulls Updates
Paul only averaged 13.9 points (career-low) while shooting 44.0% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc this season for the Suns, who lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games. However, he did dish out 8.9 assists per game and the Bulls need someone who can set the table for All-Stars DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic.
DeRozan (5.1) led the Bulls in assists per game in 2022-23. Chicago (24.5) ranked 20th in the NBA this season in assists per game. That number would likely increase if Paul was on the team running the offense since he’s one of the greatest passers of all time.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns & Chicago Bulls Updates
CP3 also has a rapport with Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, who coached Paul on the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2019-20 season.
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