The current scenario with the Warriors and Chris Paul is much like his clutch moments. Throughout his 19-year NBA career, CP3 called games with his handles followed by a bucket. Now he was again in that position with the buzzer almost ready to sound. But just like that, we’re going into overtime thanks to Chris Paul’s last-moment decision.

28th June was the final date for Chris Paul to make a decision on his contract. The Point God has a $30 million player option which he had to opt in by today, but now he’s pushed the deadline till Sunday as Adrian Wojnarowski writes. And that is the same day free agency starts.

This allows the San Francisco franchise to make a decision on a possible trade. As per reports, the Warriors who are in search of a suitable trade partner might waive Paul ultimately. And where does that lead to? The same old Clippers for Chris Paul, the Lob City he built, just like a Hollywood movie script.

But who’s walking through the door? Possibly Paul George. Reports have it that the Warriors are looking to offer a four-year max deal, much in George’s interest. The Clippers forward is undoubtedly one of the most influential pieces of a giant puzzle. George has multiple options to choose from. Taking the $48 million player option and requesting a trade seems like a possible path for PG13. If he then fits into the rumored Warriors’ plan, that will mean discarding one of the favorite son of the city, Klay Thompson.

His 32-minute appearance, littered with zeros against the Kings in April, probably sealed his destiny. At 34 years old, the guard is deemed no longer a must-have component of the team. Moreover, Mike Dunleavy’s remark on considering ‘business side’ of things as they edge going over cap doesn’t give much hopes either. But new reports emerging are providing a possible escape route to Thompson.

Warriors could set both Chris Paul and Klay Thompson loose

While Chris Paul’s situation is a time-dependent one, Klay Thompson’s one is more preference-oriented. If what the reports claim are correct, then the Mavericks are the latest team to show interest in Thompson. According to Marc Stein, the Dallas side is ready to pounce on the 5-time All-Star.

“League sources tell The Stein Line that the Dallas Mavericks, with some newfound financial flexibility after securing the Tim Hardaway Jr.-to-Detroit trade… are another team intent on exploring the feasibility of signing Thompson once he makes it to free agency,” Stein wrote on his Substack.

Apart from the 2024 NBA Finalists, the 2023 Champions are also interested in Thompson’s services. But the interest will be situational. Reports suggest that Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is set to decline his $15 million player option to enter free agency on Sunday. If no significant alteration happens, the Denver side will pursue Klay Thompson, as per Sam Amick. Either way, the Warriors are bracing for a life without Chris Paul and Klay Thompson. The only thing there is to see if the running gag of the NBA script materializes into reality.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what brand maker, Leonard Armato, had to say about the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe, check out this video