Chris Paul Next Team Odds: Suns Odds-On Favorites, L.A. in the Mix

While the league was distracted by a surprisingly-competitive NBA Finals, the Suns shifted early focus to the offseason for a brief moment on Wednesday, with the announcement that they had waived Chris Paul.

Now, normally, this would have been a bombshell that sent several teams scrambling. But with Shams Charania reporting that this is likely just Step 1 in a process to bring CP3 back to Phoenix for less money, we may not be seeing him switch teams, despite technically being a free agent. 

The NBA odds seem to agree, with Phoenix an odds-on favorite to retain the aging Point God's services next season. Let's check out which other teams are factoring into Chris Paul's next team odds.

Chris Paul's next team odds

Team	Odds
Phoenix Suns	-180
Los Angeles Lakers	+700
Los Angeles Clippers	+800
San Antonio Spurs	+1,000
Miami Heat	+1,000
Boston Celtics	+1,000
Philadelphia 76ers	+1,500
Dallas Mavericks	+1,500
Memphis Grizzlies	+1,500
New Orleans Pelicans	+2,000

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of June 8, 2023.

Favorites to acquire Chris Paul

Phoenix Suns -180

According to Shams Charania (if you're more into prestige TV than NBA offseason rumors, he's basically Lord Varys), the Suns might just be pulling a smoke-and-mirrors act with Chris Paul here:

Sources: The Suns and Chris Paul are exploring multiple options, including a trade, stretching his contract, or waiving and re-signing him in free agency. Phoenix expected to discuss trades ahead of Paul’s June 28 contract date.

Story at @TheAthletic:https://t.co/5EwV2pFLZ6

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 7, 2023

With CP3 on the books for over $30 million next season, it significantly hampers the Suns' ability to fill in the depth they sorely lacked around their stars on 2023's playoff run.

Paul probably recognizes the urgency here, and that the Suns represent one of his best chances to win that elusive NBA title. But with the new CBA imposing harsher penalties on luxury tax teams, and Phoenix already committing over $114 million to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton, his salary's a bit of an eyesore given his declining production and seemingly annual playoff injuries.

L.A. Lakers +700

There have been fairly pervasive undertones through the years that Paul and LeBron James — infamously both members of #TeamBananaBoat — were destined to join forces at some point.

And if Paul is, indeed, without a team in a few weeks, the Lakers are very much the type of situation he could find himself at home in. 

L.A.'s likely in the market for a point guard — it can't be thrilled with D'Angelo Russell after he hemorrhaged points every time he stepped on the floor in the playoffs — and Paul would be a great tweak for a team that, sweep aside, did make the Western Conference Finals a few weeks ago. 

Of course, health is the Lakers' Achilles heel, and won't be any less an issue with LeBron continuing to age (should he not just retire) and Anthony Davis, well, being Anthony Davis. Adding CP3 to the mix may not be the safest hedge in that regard. 

L.A. Clippers +800

Speaking of Los Angeles teams with weird point guard situations, ladies and gentlemen, the Clippers!

The irony here is that Rusell Westbrook was actually dynamite for them in the postseason when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George inevitably got hurt, playing some of his most inspired and cohesive basketball in years. 

However, Westbrook generally needs the ball in his hands to thrive, and with the Clippers' stars healthy, the ball will, generally, not be in his hands. 

While CP3's very much an on-ball guard, he's way smarter than Westbrook away from it, and can create playmaking opportunities that no current Clipper is capable of.

The Clippers are likely getting increasingly desperate, having mortgaged their future for what's amounted to four seasons of early playoff exits. Don't underestimate their willingness to roll the dice. 

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