Boston Celtics: Pros and cons of pursuing Chris Paul

Chris Paul shocked the world today when he announced that he’d be declining his player option–one that is worth a whopping $44, 211,146–to explore free agency. That news followed rumblings that the Boston Celtics could look to deal Kemba Walker this offseason.

That means there could be some major backcourt shuffling around the league this offseason, with the aging pair still representing the top echelon of floor generals in today’s league.

Paul in particular, even at the tender age of 36, is still an All-Star caliber talent that could elevate a team from obscurity to the postseason. Exhibit A was last season’s Oklahoma City Thunder who were predicted to hit the lottery but instead forced a Game 7 against James Harden and Russell Westbrook’s small-ball Houston Rockets in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals down in the Lake Buena Vista bubble.

Exhibit B was this year’s Suns, though they themselves proved down in Disney World that they can hang with the top teams in the Western Conference with a perfect 8-0 run through the seeding game slate.

That said, Paul now has them in a position to unseat LeBron James in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, something no team has ever done.

Paul is a proven playmaker that now serves as a stimulus to a team’s prospects of contending, especially given the 2018 Houston postseason playoff run that almost saw the Rockets take down the dynastic Golden State Warriors before Paul got injured.

We know what he can do, but is it worth pursuing him this offseason?

Let’s take a look: