Why Chris Paul Doesn’t Make Sense For Dallas Mavericks Despite Previous Interest
The LA Clippers’ decision to send Chris Paul home for the remainder of the season has sparked fresh speculation about where the 21-year NBA veteran could finish the final year of his Hall of Fame career. Paul has maintained a desire to remain close to his family in Los Angeles, even as other markets may offer more immediate opportunities to contend.
That preference shaped league expectations months ago. Dallas did have interest in Paul during the offseason, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com, but the widely held intel around the NBA was that Paul wanted to stay in Los Angeles. That understanding effectively ended the possibility before discussions advanced, leading the Mavericks to emphasize a pursuit of D’Angelo Russell instead.
Now, several months into the season, the reasons a Paul–Mavericks fit didn’t materialize then have only become more pronounced.
Guard Minutes Will Tighten Once Kyrie Irving Returns
Even if Paul were open to Dallas — and even if Jason Kidd’s respect for him is legitimate, which it is — the Mavericks’ backcourt picture simply doesn’t support the move.
Several NBA scouts believe the Mavericks need to continue developing the guards already in place, particularly given the expected return of Kyrie Irving.
“You’re not taking minutes from Kyrie when he comes back,” one Western Conference scout said. “D-Lo hasn’t worked out, but the other guys behind Kyrie have earned their roles. Ryan Nembhard is the real deal. Brandon Williams is solid. There’s no reason to disrupt that just to squeeze in Chris Paul.”
Irving is likely to return relatively in the near future, and when he does, a significant share of the backcourt minutes will immediately flow back through him. Behind Irving, Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams have shown they are capable rotation pieces, stabilizing the offense and handling responsibility at a level that has earned the staff’s trust.
Another scout highlighted the importance of long-term evaluation as Dallas builds around Cooper Flagg.
“You’ve got to find out who fits with Flagg for the next five years,” an Eastern Conference scout said. “Nembhard looks the part. He reads the floor, he’s poised, and he gets guys organized. You don’t add a 40-year-old guard and take the ball out of a young playmaker’s hands. They’d be smart to keep putting more on Nembhard’s plate and see how he handles it.”
Kidd has long admired Paul, according to league sources, and the dynamic between them could be productive. But as one scout framed it, that’s simply not enough to justify the move.
“Respect is one thing,” the scout said. “A clean basketball fit is another. This isn’t the roster for CP3. If he plays again, there are better fits out there.”
The Roster and Cap Math Make This Nearly Impossible
Even if the basketball fit were stronger, the logistical barriers are overwhelming. Dallas is boxed in by both roster constraints and the second apron. The team is at the 15-player limit and cannot add a standard contract without removing one.
Furthermore, the Mavericks still need to create a roster spot in early January just to convert Nembhard to a standard NBA deal when the CBA allows it. It’s not a complicated decision to waive Danté Exum to create room, given he’s out for the season amid a need to undergo knee surgery.
A trade is equally unrealistic. Salary-matching restrictions under the apron rules leave Exum and Williams as the only comparable outgoing contracts. Williams is more productive than Paul at this stage, and Exum will not play this season. The Clippers would have no incentive to accept that type of return, nor would Dallas have reason to pursue a multi-team framework to force the math to work.
Dallas Mavericks Have No Reason to Revisit
The circumstances that justified Dallas’ offseason interest — and ultimately why that interest ended — are even more relevant now. Paul wants to remain in Los Angeles. Dallas’ roster and cap structure are locked down. Nembhard and Williams have emerged as real rotation guards. Irving will return and further consolidate minutes.
The Mavericks do not need another point guard, and they certainly don’t need one who would require roster reshuffling to accommodate.
Chris Paul simply does not make sense for the Dallas Mavericks — not financially, not structurally, and not on the court.
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