There is no doubt that Chris Paul has cemented his place in the history of the Phoenix Suns.
He helped the team reach the NBA Finals and has given them great regular season success.
It’s true that they have yet to reach their biggest goal but Paul has become a pivotal part of the franchise over the last three seasons.
However, life will go on after the 37-year-old guard retires.
The Phoenix Suns have started to assess their future without Chris Paul, per @TheSteinLine
They have identified Terry Rozier, Immanuel Quickley and Fred VanVleet as potential trade targets. pic.twitter.com/NlMjV7u9Lz— Shooters Touch (@Shooters_Touch1) January 24, 2023
Because of this, the Suns have “started to assess” their future without Paul, according to NBA writer Marc Stein.
As a way to fill the void left by Paul, the team has identified Terry Rozier of the Charlotte Hornets, Immanuel Quickley of the New York Knicks, and Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors as possible replacements.
To be clear, no one is sure when Paul will step down.
While he has certainly experienced more injuries lately, he is still producing 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 8.4 assists a game.
He has the sort of skill and fighting spirit to help his team win but time is catching up with him.
All of the names listed above could be adequate replacements for Paul but it remains to be seen if the Suns would be able to land any of them.
Each of them will be trade targets by multiple teams soon because they are young, impressive, and have shown they can lead a team.
Losing Paul will be a big change for the Suns and it’ll require an adjustment for everyone on the roster.
That’s why it’s smart that the front office is already laying the groundwork for such a major alteration.
