Surprise Landing Spots for NBA Players In the Rumor Mill | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

How He Gets There: Signs as a free agent after getting waived

Chris Paul technically isn't a free agent yet, although the Golden State Warriors figure to waive or trade the 39-year-old before his $30 million salary for the 2024-25 season becomes fully guaranteed in late June.

Paul will presumably want to join a championship contender to try to win a ring, since his lack of a title is one of the only blemishes on his Hall of Fame resume. However, some veterans at the end of their career join younger teams with cap space to cash in one last time, a la Joe Ingles with the Orlando Magic or Jeff Green with the Houston Rockets last summer.

Paul could always take the second route, get paid, and ask for a trade to a contender around the trade deadline.

The Detroit Pistons should be interested in the impact Paul could have on changing the losing habits of this young core. Head coach Monty Williams has spent time with Paul with the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Hornets and could serve as a major recruiter for the 12-time All-Star.

Detroit can create up to nearly $68.5 million in cap space this summer and should be eager to add veterans after a nightmarish past few years. Giving Paul a one-year, $15 million-ish deal wouldn't affect the team's long-term finances, and he'd be valuable salary filler for a midseason trade if both sides eventually want to move on.

Paul won't get this kind of money from a contender directly, as even the non-taxpayer mid-level exception is projected to come in at $12.9 million. Reuniting with Williams, getting paid, planting winning habits in Detroit and then getting traded to a title contender during the season is a realistic scenario for CP3.