![]() ![]() When he gets hot like that, it’s lights out for teams.” “We’ve got so many shooters, and when they’re making shots like that, we’re tough to beat,” Paul said. New Orleans, badly outscored inside while missing center Tyson Chandler (ankle) and David West (back), made up for it with 14 3s as a team. ![]() The Sixers still might have had a chance if Paul had been a one-man show, but he had help, from Stojakovic, who highlighted a 26-point performance with six 3-pointers. That would be a quintuple-double, but Paul wasn’t really that close to double-digit turnovers. All salary information via Spotrac or RealGM. ![]() Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. It wouldn't be a bad short-term Band-Aid until they were better in line for a bigger swing, though. Swapping out Harden for Paul at this stage of their respective careers likely wouldn't swing the Sixers' title odds in a positive direction next season. They'd still have just as much financial flexibility in 2024 as they would if Harden left, and Paul might be able to help keep them afloat in the title conversation until they're able to pursue more significant changes. The Sixers would be doing no harm to their long-term outlook by acquiring Paul via a Harden sign-and-trade rather than losing him for nothing to Houston. The Rockets would have no incentive to agree to a sign-and-trade with the Sixers, as they'd need to keep their bigger contracts on their books for salary filler if/when they try to trade for a second star. Then again, Harden could threaten to pick up his player option as part of an opt-in-and-trade or leave for the Rockets instead. The Sixers might prefer to receive younger players and/or draft compensation in a Harden sign-and-trade since they'd have leverage over the Suns. Depending on what other moves they make this offseason-particularly whether they sign Tyrese Maxey to a big-money extension-they could have a max-contract slot next summer. His $30 million salary for the 2024-25 season is fully non-guaranteed until late June 2024, so the Sixers could clear both him and Tobias Harris' $39.3 million salary off their books simultaneously. He's set to earn nearly $21 million next season, or roughly $11.5 million less than Ayton, which could help make up the difference between Paul and Harden's salaries.įor the Sixers, Paul could be a stopgap ahead of a potentially pivotal 2024 offseason. The team-friendly structure of Turner's contract could be particularly appealing for the Suns, particularly if they're hard-capped after acquiring Harden via sign-and-trade. The Pacers proceeded to renegotiate-and-extend the contract of starting center Myles Turner, significantly increasing his salary for last season while tacking on an additional two years and $40.9 million to his deal. They were the ones who signed Ayton to his four-year max offer sheet last summer, which the Suns quickly matched. The Indiana Pacers jump to mind as one possibility. ![]() The Sixers would have no need for Ayton unless they trade star center Joel Embiid this summer, so the Suns might have to find a third team to send Ayton (and perhaps Paul) to. The Suns could also try to swing a multiteam deal in which they send out both Ayton and Paul and receive Harden in return. That's a slight increase over his player option, but the Suns would be far better off going the opt-in-and-trade route to maintain more financial flexibility if the difference is that minimal. If they wanted to send Paul back to Philadelphia in a straight one-for-one swap, Harden could receive no more than roughly $37.1 million as the starting salary of his new deal. The Suns would be limited to taking back no more than 125% of the salary they send out in a Harden sign-and-trade, plus $100,000. A Suns team whose questionable depth already hampered them in their Western Conference Semifinals loss to the Denver Nuggets would become even more top-heavy, albeit with the league's most talented Big Three. If the Suns gave him that amount in a sign-and-trade, they'd have nearly $130.6 million tied up in Harden, Durant and Booker alone, leaving less than $39 million to round out the rest of their roster. Harden's max salary this offseason is projected to be $46.9 million. The only other contracts on Phoenix's books are Landry Shamet ($10.3 million) and Cameron Payne (guaranteed only $2 million of his $6.5 million salary), along with a $1.9 million club option on Ish Wainright. The same goes for 38-year-old point guard Chris Paul, who has only $15.8 million of his $30.8 million salary for next season fully guaranteed until late June. Deandre Ayton is heading into the second year of his four-year, $132.9 million max contract, although the Suns plan on exploring trades for him this offseason, according to multiple reports. ![]()
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