Before the offseason started, the San Antonio Spurs were heavily rumored to pursue Cleveland Cavaliers star Darius Garland. However, those rumors amounted to nothing as the point guard remained in the East while the Victor Wembanyama-led team ended up with Chris Paul.
Just recently, Paul has signed a 1-year, $11 million deal with the Spurs. He was previously waived by the Golden State Warriors, where he played last season, averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 58 games.
The 19-year NBA veteran brings a wealth of experience to the Spurs, having made 15 playoff appearances and 12 All-Star teams. He ranks third all-time in both assists and steals, with career averages of 17.5 points, 9.4 assists, and 2.12 steals per game. Paul’s impressive career includes 11 All-NBA and 9 All-Defensive Team selections, as well as two Olympic gold medals and the 2013 NBA All-Star Game MVP award.
The signing of Chris Paul reunites him with Spurs’ Wembanyama, who was the top overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The veteran point guard will bring valuable leadership and experience to the young Spurs squad as they look to build around their promising 7’4″ phenom. With Paul’s exceptional court vision and playmaking skills, he should be an ideal mentor for the rookie’s development and help the Spurs take a step forward in their rebuilding process.
The Main Reason Why San Antonio Spurs’ Pursuit of Darius Garland Failed
Before Paul was signed by San Antonio, there were a lot of signs pointing to the acquisition of Garland. In an article written by Tyler Conway for Bleacher Report, it’s revealed that the Spurs didn’t stand the chance of getting the All-Star guard for next season.
“Per Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, the San Antonio Spurs were a team that called Cleveland about Garland earlier this offseason. The Cavs “rebuffed any inbound trade interest” in the 24-year-old,” Conway wrote.
Last season, Garland averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in 33.4 minutes per game. His ability to create plays for himself and others while generating offense, particularly from beyond the arc, would have worked well with an elite interior presence in Wembanyama.
Even if Garland didn’t make his way to the Alamo, the team still ended up with a competent option in Paul. When the new season starts soon, everyone will see how those moves will play out, particularly with Wembanyama.
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