Knicks rumors: 3 positive things a Chris Paul trade would bring

Veteran presence

Paul is stable on the court and stable off the court as well. Paul is an absolute professional and always has been.

Having played for the New Orleans Hornets (Pelicans), LA Clippers, Houston Rockets, and OKC Thunder, fans always get the sense that Paul is a team player and a positive influence on the locker room.

For the Knicks, that model, that eight-time All-Star that you can look up to, that’s important. It can be a compass for youngsters as they seek to structure their career in a way that brings them success. And when young players involved in a young core succeed, the whole organization succeeds.

Paul might not be a part of a championship team if the Knicks trade for him. It’s really had to envision a model where the Knicks pick up his contract for the next two years and he turns everything around. It’s not hard to see how he could have a clear impact on RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, and Mitchell Robinson, though. All of those players are a part of the young core in New York, and could easily push Paul’s influence onward for years to come.

Paul could be the guy to get the team to break out of their Fortnite-induced isolation and get the team to participate in bonding outskirts and team-building moments. That stuff matters for championship-level teams.

Not many veterans would be happy about getting traded to New York. It’s tough to say where Paul’s head would be at if he were to be traded, but at this point in his career, he does not have quite as much leverage as he did when he requested a trade out of New Orleans. His leverage has dissipated as his potential and upside have diminished.

There are a lot of good things to focus on with a potential CP3 trade. Would it be the best move for the organization at this time? I’m not too sure. Loading up nearly $90 million over two years to an aging guard doesn’t seem like the way the Knicks should turn it around. At first glance, though, it wouldn’t be the worst decision the front office has made over the last several years.