The Oklahoma City Thunder are having a hard time finding anyone to take Chris Paul’s contract off their hands.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, based on conversations with NBA general managers, there is “almost no appetite” around the league to touch Paul’s contract, particularly the $44 million player option in 2021-22.
Paul will be 37 years old by the time that deal expires.
The Thunder are running into the same problem the Houston Rockets had: Paul’s contract is nearly untradeable unless the pot is sweetened with extra draft picks. That runs counter to what Oklahoma City is trying to do, which is stockpile future first-round selections in order to strengthen their rebuild.
Ultimately, they’re reportedly open to keeping the point guard, largely because, at this point, they may have no other choice.