Historically speaking, Chris Paul has managed to uplift every franchise he has donned the jersey for. It’s among the many reasons San Antonio Spurs are raving with anticipation. The savvy floor general is an expert at organizing an offense. His partner just so happens to be a unicorn touted to be “generational”. It seemed last season Victor Wembanyama lacked a playmaker that could feed him the ball. With Paul, the biggest of Gregg Popovich’s worries seem to be eradicated. But is the franchise placed better?

Mike Shearer, an NBA analyst, isn’t exactly confident that the Spurs have improved with their offseason moves. Why? He can’t seem to get past their lack of floor spacers. Viewing from last season, the team ranked 27th in their conversion from beyond the arc.

Chris Paul, on the other hand, isn’t revered to be a downtown threat. Veteran Harrison Barnes could possibly propel them to be a better shooting team. The rest of them? Shearer doesn’t see much value.

“This team won 22 games last year even though Wembanyama played 71. They have probably the worst shooting in the league. I haven’t done any comprehensive view on this, but this team is making the Orlando Magic look like a team full of Splash Brothers,” he says. In that regard, he only identifies three true shooters. Harrison Barnes, who is “actually an accurate shooter on decent volume,” Devin Vassell, who is currently recovering from a foot injury, and Julian Champagnie.

For a towering interior threat like Victor Wembanyama, it’s essential to have surrounding talents who can shoot when given the space. The Spurs lack any consistent rotation that can provide them with such services. Notably, they lost Cedi Osman and Doug McDermott, two of their most emphatic shooters from last season. In replacement, they drafted Stephon Castle, an elite guard who generates offense near the rim. It leaves them with a glaring weakness, at least until Devin Vassell returns.

“Chris Paul’s on the team. He will help as someone who can actually deliver a lob. God knows San Antonio needs somebody like that. But he, I think he’s kinda lost it, I think he’s kinda washed… There’s a very real chance they flip him for future draft picks, coz San Antonio is clearly playing like the long game like they’re trying to stockpile draft picks for the late 20s and early 30s.” Barring 2029 and 2031, they’ve already stocked up 2 or more first and second-round NBA draft picks for each season for the next 7 windows.

While admitting that the Spurs will be defensively okay when their prodigy is on the floor and declaring him an All-NBA player for next season, in those regards, Shearer further admits on Basketball Intelligence, “People are really underestimating how horrific the surrounding talent around him is… and I think that’s going to drag this team way down. I can believe this line and it feels just like outrageous Wembanyama optimism.” But is shooting the only calling card that could rescue the Spurs?

The impact of Chris Paul on Victor Wembanyama and Spurs can’t be taken lightly

When it comes to CP3, “organization” is a keyword. A distinguished playmaker can make all the difference to an offense. A coordinated system means better spacing, which results in better looks. Chris Paul has managed to do that with two of his last three teams. The Suns, in particular, had dormant offensive weapons in 2019-20. Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson are all highly rated sharpshooters today. But before Paul’s arrival, the team couldn’t cross the postseason hump.

Within his first season, the Suns became a 51-win team and improved on both sides of the floor. It’s always more to do with just shooting. The Spurs too, have respectable spacers. Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, and Julian Champagnie all have a decent shot. What they require is a fulcrum that can disrupt defense and give them clean looks. With CP3, a point guard like Jones and Castle can learn the fundamentals of playmaking. Others will enjoy his pinpoint passes at the right time.

Within just a week, the ace, Victor Wembanyama noticed a difference. His goal, even though just his second year, is for the Spurs to start the season strong. With Chris Paul by his side, he slowly begins to understand the essentials of realizing that goal. “He’s just brought us a whole new view of the game because I’m young, we’re young. Most of us don’t know a whole lot about the NBA and how to win, and he does,” Wemby said of his new running mate.

Popovich, who once ‘despised’ Paul, is now thankful to have him on his side. The esteemed coach’s only concern with the ‘Point God’ is integrating him with the young crop. Refining it is something he has left on CP3 himself. “I probably won’t coach him a lick,” he said.

With Barnes, another veteran presence who has experienced the highs of a championship, the youthful Spurs have leaders to follow. CP3 isn’t here to take charge but rather to get things in order. After the All-Star break, the Spurs showed immense promise in turning things around. Even if a slight improvement, Paul is bound to ease the process and provide them with the utmost wisdom.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.