Chris Paul, the star player for the Warriors, won’t be able to return until after the trade deadline due to hand surgery.

Chris Paul, the star player for the Warriors, won’t be able to return until after the trade deadline due to hand surgery.

Chris Paul may have already played his final game in blue and gold if the Golden State Warriors make a significant trade deadline move in 2024.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the future Hall of Fame point guard will likely miss four to six weeks following surgery to fix a broken left hand. According to that schedule, Paul could return to the court as early as February 8, which is the final day that NBA teams are allowed to make trades for the 2023–24 season.

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Paul was hurt during the third quarter of the Warriors’ crucial victory over the struggling Detroit Pistons at home on Friday. The team announced shortly after the final buzzer that Paul had broken his bone and would need surgery.

As the trade deadline draws near, Golden State is one of the most intriguing potential basketball acquisitions. Former lottery selections Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, who are both up for contract extensions this summer, have both recently expressed dissatisfaction with their erratic roles in Steve Kerr’s rotation. This has led to rumors that one or both of them could be traded for a star-level veteran.

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Paul’s $30 million contract—which is fully non-guaranteed for 2024–2025—was always thought to be the Dubs’ best chance to match salaries in a deal of that kind. His injury history and the inconsistent play of Andrew Wiggins—who, at this point, has a negative value on his contract—and Klay Thompson, who is still crucial to Golden State’s chances of winning the title, further solidify that possibility.

It’s clear that Chris Paul’s time with the Warriors hasn’t gone as well as internal supporters had hoped. If it ends quickly, don’t be shocked.