Suns Expected to Waive Chris Paul

The Suns have informed veteran point guard Chris Paul that he will be waived, per Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT.

This news comes one day after new coach Frank Vogel‘s introductory press conference.

Paul, 38, was still impactful this past season, averaging 8.9 assists, good enough for third in the NBA. But a groin injury kept him out of the second round of the playoffs, with the Suns losing to the eventual Western Conference champion Nuggets.

Initially, the idea was for Paul to team with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but clearly, GM James Jones and the Suns are looking for someone younger to fill that spot. The Suns have been linked to Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, among several others.

Paul’s contract of $30.8 million was set to become fully guaranteed if he were to remain on the roster past June 28. By waiving him, the Suns will owe him half of that.

averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds, shooting 44 percent from the field and 38 percent on 3-pointers, in 59 regular-season games. His scoring average increased to just over 15 points in the postseason.

He will now become an unrestricted free agent on June 29.