The NBA news keeps coming with free agency just a day away, and this time it has to do with the Phoenix Suns. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Chris Paul has declined his $44.2 million player option for the 2021-22 NBA season, in turn making him an unrestricted free agent when the free agency period begins on Monday.
Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul is declining his $44.2 million player option for the 2021-22 season and becoming an unrestricted free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2021
The Suns made a surprise trip to the NBA Finals before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks, and now Paul is headed for free agency. However, a return to the Suns is highly likely, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Chris Paul has until midnight ET to decide on his $44M player option, but there’s optimism that if he does decide against picking it up that he and the Suns can reach a new deal when free agency opens on Monday night, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 1, 2021
The $44.2 million is a ton of money, and Paul will likely have a ton of suitors as free agency opens up. He was once rumored to the Los Angeles Lakers, although the acquisition of Russell Westbrook has essentially put that to bed.
His return to Phoenix was always the most likely possibility, and the Suns' roster staying intact should be a huge boost and give them another real opportunity to return to the NBA Finals once again, assuming they can have the same success.
Stay tuned, because NBA free agency is here and about to be a busy one with a lot of players likely headed to new homes.