Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard are declining their player options for the 2021-22 season and become unrestricted free agents, according to U.S. reports.
Athletics and stadium reported on Sunday that Paul was declining his $ 44.2 million option, without it being clear whether he would stay with last season’s Western Conference champions.
Leonard’s player option was worth $ 36 million, but ESPN has indicated he would have to negotiate a new deal to stay with the Clippers.
Teams can begin negotiating with players on Monday when the NBA’s free agency period officially begins.
Paul helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1992-93 season
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Paul, 36, helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1992-93 season after averaging 16.4 points and 8.9 assists in 70 games during the last campaign . He was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder for a first-round draft pick in 2022.
The 11-time All-Star has played for three different teams in as many seasons, so the prospect of moving on is not unknown to him. Paul’s family, in fact, continue to make Los Angeles their primary home.
Paul has averaged 18.3 points and 9.4 assists in 1,090 career games since being selected by the then New Orleans Hornets with the fourth overall pick in the draft. the NBA in 2005. He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Although Leonard is expected to re-sign with the Clippers, he is not excluded from the possibility of testing the free market again.
