Dallas Mavericks: Will they trade for Chris Paul? Should they?

Why the Dallas Mavericks should not trade for Chris Paul

The Mavs want to add a third star before Luka Doncic signs his max contract. The 21-year-old could become a restricted free agent in 2022. Expect the Mavericks to get him locked up before that point, but the team will be light on cap space. Dallas has two offseasons to land another massive contract.

Paul certainly has one. He is set to make over $41 million next season before earning north of $44 million in 2022. Luka’s rookie extension would go into effect, and the Mavs would have no cap space to replace the departing Paul. Trading for CP3 limits Dallas’ window with three stars to the next two seasons. The Mavs are not going to want to do that. They could chase a superstar in free agency that could stay with the team for a decade next to Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.

Massive contract aside, Paul has dealt with injuries over the last four seasons. Few will forget him missing the final two games against the Warriors in the 2018 playoffs with a hamstring injury. Paul has been on the sidelines for 71 regular-season games over the last four years too. Trading for a 35-year-old that has dealt with his fair share of recent injuries sounds risky.

There is also the worry that Paul starts falling off. The track record for point guards of his age is not strong. The Mavs could be trading for a player on the downside of his career making over $41 million for each of the next two seasons. That sounds risky.

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