Chris

Paul

NBA insider Chris Haynes reports the deal will be worth $3.6 million. Paul, who spent six seasons with the Clippers, will return for what will likely be his last in the NBA. The twelve-time All-Star will fill out a limited role as the backup point guard behind James Harden in his 21st season, which will likely prevent him from making a consistent impact in fantasy basketball.

Paul also said that he wants to stay close to Los Angeles next year to remain closer to his family. That leaves a few potential options for where he could suit up next season. The 40-year-old point guard should still play a role next season, but there likely won’t be an ideal opportunity for him to continue to shine for fantasy managers.

Stein’s report also says “if he indeed comes back for a 21st season,” so it seems that Paul may not have made a decision on whether or not he’s going to return for another year. If he does, this doesn’t mean he’s going to play for a Los Angeles team, but his preference would be somewhere closer. How close he’d be looking to be is unknown, but the 40-year-old should still be able to provide some solid backup point guard minutes next season.

Paul has had another solid season, though it has gone under the radar at times. However, with an appearance on Sunday, Paul was able to play in all 82 games for just the second time in his career. That is wildly impressive for a point guard who will turn 40 years old next month. Paul is nowhere near as productive as he once was, but he is still one of the best passers in the league at his age. As long as he is playing, there won’t be many players in the league who can match his combination of assists and steals with limited turnovers. Paul is a free agent this offseason and should be able to find a home if he wants to continue playing — his fantasy value will probably hinge on what kind of role he can find.

Despite the Spurs losing four straight games and careering toward the draft lottery, Paul continues to plug along as the starting point guard. The 39-year-old recorded a complete stat line on Tuesday, with the three steals being the most he’s had in a game since before the All-Star break. Over the past two weeks, Paul has been a top-100 player in eight-cat formats while sitting just outside that threshold in nine-cat. Back-to-backs have not been an issue, so expect to see Paul on the court Wednesday night in Denver.

Paul continues to provide valuable leadership for the Spurs, and he finished Monday’s defeat with eight assists. However, the playing time has decreased. Paul has not surpassed 25 minutes in any of his last six appearances and hasn’t played 30 or more since February 25. With Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox out for the rest of the season and Paul’s minutes decreasing, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll be shut down at some point. However, CP3 is still playing and can provide value in the rebound and assist categories.

Fox didn’t necessarily have a terrible Sunday night, but fantasy managers likely hoped for a more robust stat line. While he has been a top-50 player since the All-Star break, it’s fair to wonder if having two point guards on the floor for significant stretches limits the fantasy ceilings of Fox and Chris Paul. CP3 played 28 minutes on Sunday, finishing with six points, three rebounds, six assists, one block and two three-pointers. Managers who have Fox rostered should not lose any sleep over his Sunday night, but he boasts a lower fantasy ceiling in this current lineup.

Finishes like Saturday are why the Spurs moved to acquire Fox before the trade deadline. His jumper with 1.8 seconds remaining was the difference in Memphis, as San Antonio pulled out the win despite Jaren Jackson Jr. scoring a season-high 42 points. Over the past three weeks, Fox has provided top-50 value in eight-cat formats. Sharing the court with another point guard, Chris Paul (8/3/8/1 with two three-pointers), has cut into Fox’s fantasy value, but he remains a productive guard to have rostered. The Spurs play three games during Week 18, starting with the Nets on Tuesday.

Paul made history during the first quarter of Thursday’s game, recording his 2,685th career steal. The pilfer placed him second on the all-time list, trailing only John Stockton. Paul finished the victory with a double-double and five rebounds, and the assist category is worth watching with Victor Wembanyama (shoulder) done for the season. With the Spurs needing more scoring from De’Aaron Fox, there should also be more playmaking opportunities for CP3. The 10 assists are the most he’s recorded in a game since January 13, when he reached that number in a win over the Lakers.

Fox made his Spurs debut on Wednesday. While there may have been some concerns about his conditioning since he hadn’t played since Saturday, he logged 37 minutes without trouble. Fox dropped a double-double, with the 13 assists matching his season-high. He only had four double-digit assist games with the Kings this season; playing alongside Victor Wembanyama could make that a common occurrence. Also of note was Chris Paul starting alongside Fox, and he finished with 11 points, four rebounds, nine assists, and three 3-pointers in 30 minutes. If interim coach Mitch Johnson sticks with this lineup, CP3’s fantasy value may not take much of a hit.