Phoenix Suns point guard and potential Knicks target Chris Paul is declining the player option in his contract for the 2021-22 season, making him an unrestricted free agent, according to a report Sunday on Twitter by Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
He has until midnight ET to officially decide on a $44 million clause for the 2021-22 season, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
There is “optimism” that Paul and the Sun could agree to a new deal, though, Wojnarowski added.
An 11-time All-Star — including the 2020-21 season — Paul signed a four-year, $160 million maximum contract extension with the Houston Rockets July 8, 2018. The Rockets acquired Paul in a June 28, 2017, trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and dealt him July 16, 2019, to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Suns landed Paul in a Nov. 16 trade with the Thunder and became a game-changing presence en route to Phoenix’s NBA Finals appearance. Over 70 regular-season games (all starts) for 2020-21, Paul averaged 16.4 points on 49.9% shooting while adding 4.5 rebounds and 8.9 assists in 31.4 minutes.
SNY’s Ian Begley mentioned this past Friday that the Knicks, with a need at point guard, could pursue Paul. However, according to Begley, several teams expect Paul to re-sign with Phoenix.