New York Knicks: CP3 deal makes sense with the right intentions

If the New York Knicks are truly interested in acquiring Chris Paul, they must make sure the circumstances align with their long-term plan.

What was supposed to be a way station with the Oklahoma City Thunder en route to a legitimate title contender has turned into a platform for Chris Paul to showcase his resurgence.

The once fading star with the untradable contract has seen his value reborn again, an All-Star for the first time in four years as one of the league’s best crunch-time scorers for an OKC team unexpectedly in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture at 39-24.

His play might not be enough to draw the interest of contenders, but CP3 has drawn interest from the New York Knicks — per Frank Isola — who are gathering intel to make a possible run at him via trade this summer.

Everything the Knicks have done since missing out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving has charted a course to the course summer of 2021, where they hope to step once again up to the plate and swing for the superstar fences.

It’s why despite a 20-43 record that puts it 9.5 games out of the eighth seed, New York still isn’t giving more than 29.8 minutes a game to any of its developing youngsters since the All-Star break– including several questionable DNPs.

They want to build a culture of competitive basketball similar to the plan laid out by the Brooklyn Nets, and Paul could certainly help in that department.

Chris Paul will turn 36 in 2021, so it’s hard to say if his talent will actually be enough to attract top-tier free agents given the uncertainty of his productivity and surroundings.

If the New York Knicks think Paul is a shortcut back to relevancy, they’d be falling into the same trap they’ve walked right into many times this century. If CP is brought in only due to his ties to his former agent and current team president Leon Rose, that’d be nonsensical.

But barring the sacrifice of significant asset capital, there is a rationale behind acquiring Paul that puts New York on a positive track. Except, its one the franchise has failed to embrace time and time again.

With significant cap space tied to Paul, the Knicks would be forced to kiss their free-agent dreams goodbye, allowing an increased focus to the more realistic aspects of a rebuild in its early stages.

Gone would theoretically be the team-friendly deals for veterans soaking up minutes, playing time that would instead go to those who need the opportunity to chase their NBA ceilings, including but not limited to RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox.

Rarely is a nucleus of youngsters able to immediately win in the NBA, and the Knicks core would be no exception, so what better steadier hand to guide them with than Paul?

Rostering a future Hall of Famer provides obvious benefits to any team. Those increase 10-fold when said all-time great is a point guard controlling every aspect of a team’s offense as CP3 has done at an elite level for most of his career.

New York has lacked an adept floor general since arguably the days of Mark Jackson. Paul won’t likely be able to replicate his success in OKC, but his IQ, work ethic and experience would embed incredible habits and knowledge into the minds of those still receptive to such tutelage in the early stages of their careers.

By the time Chris Paul’s contract expires following the 2021-22 season, one would hope the future of the New York Knicks would be farther along in their progression. Two years of work isn’t enough to attract a superstar, but it’s enough to build considerable momentum in pursuit of that goal.

This is a deal that would’ve made more sense for New York a summer ago when the Houston Rockets were willing to tack on multiple first-round picks to rid themselves of Paul, but due diligence is a part of the job that’s evaded the franchise for quite some time.

Perhaps the Thunder are simply looking to get off the remaining two years and $85 million on Paul’s deal. Or maybe they’re looking to add to their incredible collection of draft picks. With CP’s rebranding, Sam Presti might have the leverage to go after both.

The cost should play a factor. But before New York’s front office gets on the phone to negotiate that asking price, they first have to establish the proper motive for a potential deal that would send the franchise down one of two vastly different directions.