Currently, the Utah Jazz have 15 players on their roster, meaning they can’t add anyone via free agency or trade without getting rid of someone else. It’s not like the Jazz are desperate for any big adds at the moment. It’s very possible this may be a repeat of last year where they don’t do anything, but they have the opportunity someone who could help them big time: Chris Paul.
Cue Jazz fans reaction to that:
No one would be wrong to laugh at this assertion. Paul is no longer a star, it didn’t take long for him to flame out in his current situation, and he probably wouldn’t be too keen on Utah. The only reason why there’s a case to be made that he could fit well as a Jazzman is the kind of impact he would leave on their young players.
Paul will go down as one of the best players of his generation who never won a title – he and John Stockton can relate quite a bit with each other – but he was typically quite adept at getting the best out of his team.
He was also known for being a bit hard to deal with, as his extreme competitiveness rubbed people the wrong way, which is why he and the Clippers are having a falling-out. It’s not a foolproof plan, but his energy can rub off on the young players the Jazz have the same way it rubbed off on Devin Booke and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Utah has plenty of young talent that has yet to be truly molded. Paul can be that influence that gets them to reach their potential. That would depend on how receptive they will be to what he has to say, but Paul can absolutely teach them the right way.
One may think this is all a hunch, and to some degree, it is, but Utah re-acquired Georges Niang to be that veteran influence. Paul can help in that crusade. He may not prefer a team like Utah, but Jazz fans should trust Danny Ainge’s instincts. If Paul becomes a Jazzman, it’s because the team believes he will help.
Paul is eligible to be traded on December 15
Right now the Clippers haven’t waived Paul because it’s not in their best interest to do so. They want him off their payroll because in this day and age, every penny counts when it comes to NBA payroll. So, either a Paul trade is happening or he just won’t play the rest of the season.
Paul and the Clippers don’t want the latter option, so a trade is coming, one way or another. The Jazz have helped the Clippers in the past, though this last move may have put the final nail in the coffin for LA. They could do it again by taking Paul off their hands, though they would have to trade someone to the Clippers or trade one of their guys to another team.
There have been no reports that Utah wants to get in on the CP3 business. If they’re not interested, that’s totally fine, but if they are, fans should at the very least be curious about what their plans would be with him.