After agreeing to push back the deadline on Chris Paul’s $30 million non-guaranteed contract, the Warriors are waiving the veteran point guard.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski were first to report the news.
The Warriors initially acquired Paul in last year’s trade that sent Jordan Poole to Washington. The move now amounts to a salary dump, given that Paul is coming off the books for nothing.
Golden State moved Paul’s deadline date from Friday to Sunday while they searched for a potential trade to use his salary in. Nothing materialized, and now Paul is a free agent.
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The Warriors are at approximately $146 in payroll committed for next year, meaning they’ll have the non-taxpayer midlevel exception of $12.8 million and the bi-annual exception ($4.8 million) available to use on free agents.
A long-time rival of Golden State’s Paul came into the program and embraced his role as a veteran locker room leader and steady change-of-pace hand. He was a member of several of the Warriors’ most productive five-man lineups.
“It was a unique experience,” Paul said in his end-of-season interview. “I’m glad I got an opportunity to play with the guys that I did, get a chance to meet new people, play for an organization I never would have imagined I’d play for. But I’m grateful for the experience.”
In his one season as a Warrior, Paul averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists per game. The 12-time All-Star came off the bench for the first time of his career and now could seek a team that may allow him to start once again.
“I think for me, I showed the ability to adapt and change, but first and foremost, I’m a competitor,” Paul said of coming off the bench. “I want to hoop. I just love to play. I love to play. I love to contribute and just — I think that’s what it is for me. I think it’s a big summer. I’ve got to get back to work, get back to work.”