12-time All-Star would only be good Boston Celtics fit in backup role, says analyst

Chris Paul would be a good fit on the Boston Celtics only under the condition that he was a reserve floor general in Joe Mazzulla’s rotation, says Chowder and Champions’ Tarringo Basile-vaughan — who believes that CP3 could bring out the most in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown but is no longer capable of doing so for extended minutes every night.

“While the playoff history hasn’t been favorable for Paul, the hunger to win a title along with his experience could help and push both Tatum and Brown,” Basile-vaughan said. “This is as long as he would accept being a piece of the puzzle and not one of the main pieces of the puzzle. In other words, in a decreased role, the skillset Paul would bring to a Celtics team in need of a pure point guard would be hard to turn down.”

Boston has 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon ahead of any point guard addition. Meanwhile, Payton Pritchard could be on the move after reiterating his midseason trade demand, though it should be pointed out that he is also rumored to potentially stick around due to both the rising salary cap and his likely cheap next contract per Heavy’s Sean Deveney (h/t Heavy’s Mark Nilon). Either way, Paul would be slated to have competition in the Celtics’ backcourt if he ever decided to join the team that wanted to trade for him in 2011 with Rajon Rondo as the primary trade chip.

Chris Paul would be a stellar mid-level exception signing for the Boston Celtics

If the Boston Celtics end up in a position to add Paul for the mid-level exception this offseason, they’d do well to seal the deal and add the most offensively gifted backup floor general the team has had since Terry Rozier.

Paul is a dream scenario at the MLE for the Celtics, though his signing would presumably preclude other moves that’d open up minutes for him.

As long as the team keeps one of Smart or Brogdon, the point guard depth in Boston can stand to benefit from bringing on a leader on and off the floor in Paul who’s just as motivated to get his first ring as Tatum and Brown are.