The Dallas Mavericks want a seasoned floor general to help steady their backcourt and they’ve got their sights on one of the greatest point guards of this generation, Chris Paul.
But while they’re ready to make their pitch, Paul may already have other plans. With free agency days away, the Mavericks are expected to go after a 12-time All-Star, but league insiders say location, not money or minutes, could be the deal breaker.
Mavericks Interested in Chris Paul, but He May Be Headed to Los Angeles
Chris Paul is on the Mavericks’ radar, but whether the interest is mutual remains unclear. According to The Stein Line, the Mavericks plan to target the veteran guard using their $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception. That’s all Dallas can afford after re-signing Kyrie Irving to a three-year, $119 million deal.
“Chris Paul would be another Mavericks target at $5.7 million,” Marc Stein reported, “but there is a growing belief that Paul… is determined to play closer to his home base in Los Angeles if he indeed comes back for a 21st season.”
Chris Paul is reportedly ‘determined’ to play closer to home in Los Angeles next season, per @TheSteinLine
“Chris Paul would be another Mavericks target at $5.7 million, but there is a growing belief that Paul — after starting all 82 games last season in San Antonio as a… pic.twitter.com/x1s9oscYGn
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 28, 2025
Paul, who started all 82 games last season for the San Antonio Spurs, hasn’t said publicly whether he’ll return for his 21st NBA season. But if he does, he’s made one thing clear: he wants to be near his family.
“I talked to my family about it,” Paul said on The Pat McAfee Show. “My son is 16. My daughter is 12. The past six seasons, I have lived without them. I’ve been away from them for the last six years. That’s the conversation.”
That conversation points straight toward Los Angeles, where Paul played the prime years of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers and where his family still lives. From 2011 to 2017, Paul was the engine of the Clippers’ “Lob City” era, averaging 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 4.2 rebounds across 409 games.
So, the Clippers could be an emotional return, but there’s a possible roadblock in James Harden. Their chemistry in Houston never clicked, and reuniting now could be tricky. That said, the Clippers could actually use a player like Paul.
Their backup point guard rotation was one of the weakest among the NBA teams last season. Paul’s ability to control tempo, make plays, and take care of the ball could give L.A. much-needed stability behind Harden, without asking him to carry a full-time load.
Likewise, the Lakers are another logical option. Paul was infamously set to become a Laker in 2011 before the NBA vetoed the trade. LeBron James, one of his closest friends, is still there and with both players nearing the twilight of their careers, one last chance to team up could carry weight. But the fit isn’t flawless. Paul and Luka Dončić both dominate the ball and that overlap could get messy.
Besides, Paul could help the Mavericks too, especially early in the season while Kyrie Irving recovers from his ACL injury. At 40, he still controls pace, punishes defenses with smart reads, and rarely turns the ball over. He’s the kind of veteran presence that could help groom rookie Cooper Flagg and keep Anthony Davis involved in the halfcourt.
But when Irving returns and unless Paul is willing to take a smaller role in crunch time, the Mavericks might have a traffic jam at the guard spot. The other issue is money. The Mavs’ $5.7 million offer might not be enough to lure Paul away from a return to L.A., especially if he’s prioritizing family and comfort at this stage.
