The San Antonio Spurs have bolstered their roster in support of Victor Wembanyama’s development by signing veteran Chris Paul to a one-year, $11 million deal in this summer’s free agency.
At 39, Chris Paul may no longer be in his prime, but he remains a highly effective contributor to any NBA team. He expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Spurs and playing under the legendary Gregg Popovich in his first message to his new team.
“I would have never thought in a million years that I’d get an opportunity to play for Pop. I’m excited about this young and talented team. I cannot wait to get there, get to work, and see what we can accomplish together. Hope you guys are well. Go Spurs,” Paul shared on the team’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account.
By his high standards, Chris Paul is coming off a disappointing year. The 12-time NBA All-Star averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 44.1 shooting from the field in 58 regular season games (18 starts) during his lone season with the Golden State Warriors in 2023–2024.
Chris Paul is not the only veteran the San Antonio Spurs acquired
In addition to acquiring Chris Paul, the San Antonio Spurs have strengthened their wing depth this offseason by adding Harrison Barnes, making them one of the teams with the most initiative.
A three-team trade between the Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, and Chris Duarte saw DeMar DeRozan move to Sactown, two second-round picks go to the Windy City, and Harrison Barnes was acquired.
The former NBA champion is coming off a respectable 2023–24 season in which he averaged 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range and 47.4 percent from the field for the Sacramento Kings.
The San Antonio Spurs’ decision to acquire Barnes is a salary dump, but the 31-year-old can guide their younger swingmen, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson.