Wishes fail! After cutting Lillard, the Bucks want Paul, but the latter doesn t want to stay away from their family

NBA free market has another big news, the whereabouts of 40-year-old veteran Chris Paul are gradually becoming clear, and the recruitment plan of the Milwaukee Bucks seems to have failed.

According to the latest report by well-known journalist Chris Haynes, the Bucks did express interest in Paul, hoping to introduce this experienced point guard to fill the vacancy after Lillard left the team.

However, Paul's response disappointed the Bucks management - he just wanted to stay closer to home to play, while the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns remained his first choice.

Paul's decision was not surprising. Long before the free market opened, NBA famous reporter Marc Stein revealed that Paul hopes to play for teams close to Los Angeles next season so that he can have more time to spend with his family. His mansion in Los Angeles is located in Encino, worth $11.1 million and covers an area of ​​about 4,047 square meters. Obviously, he doesn't want to be too far away from home.

Currently, the Clippers and the Suns are the only two teams that meet Paul's requirements. The Clippers' advantage lies in their feelings - Paul played here in the 2011-2017 season, creating the glory of "Air Connection City". In addition, the Clippers are currently in urgent need of a substitute point guard to share Harden's pressure, and Paul's organizational skills and defensive experience are exactly what they need.

The Suns have another layer of attraction - Paul led the team to the finals in 2021, and his cooperation with Devin Booker was impressive. If he returns to the Suns, he can help the team solve the problem of backcourt depth and free Booker.

The Bucks originally hoped that Paul would become Antetokounmpo's new helper, especially after laying off Lillard, they urgently needed a veteran with stable control. However, Milwaukee is too far from Los Angeles, and Paul obviously doesn't want to stay away from his family at the end of his career.

In addition, the Bucks' prospects for championships are no brighter than those of the Clippers or the Suns. Although Antetokounmpo is still the top superstar in the league, the team's lineup has changed a lot, and Paul prefers to join a team with a mature tactical system and a greater chance of winning the championship.

Although he is 40 years old, Paul still played 82 regular season games for the Spurs last season, averaging 8.8 points + 7.4 assists per game, proving that he can still gain a foothold in the NBA. His game reading ability, key ball handling and locker room leadership are valuable assets for any championship team.