[brid autoplay=”true” video=”816273″ player=”23231″ title=”Top%20NBA%20free%20agents%20of%202021″ duration=”53″ description=”Unlike last offseason, we’re going to see a ton of top end NBA free agents in 2021. Players like future Hall of Famers Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul will likely opt out of their contracts and hit the open market.Meanwhile, there’s a large amount of talented youngsters set to become restricted free agents. That list includes Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins and Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans.” uploaddate=”2021-06-29″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/816273_t_1624987441.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/816273.mp4″]
After opting out of his $44.2 million salary for the 2021-22 season, the expectation has been that Chris Paul would return to the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns in free agency.
That’s now come to fruition. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports, Paul is indeed returning to the desert on a four-year contract that could pay him up to $120 million in cold-hard cash.
Paul, 36, was absolutely brilliant as Devin Booker’s running partner in his first season with the Suns. The 11-time All-Star averaged 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 8.9 assists on 50% shooting from the field.
Chris Paul and his veteran presence helped pave the way for Phoenix to put up its best single-season performance since being ousted by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals.
While Phoenix fell short of its ultimate goal in the championship round against the Milwaukee Bucks, the 2020-21 campaign was a tremendous success.
By signing Paul to a four-year contract, the Suns are hoping that he can still play at a high level into his late 30’s and early 40’s. That is a major gamble for up-and-coming general manager James Jones. But it’s a gamble worth taking.