Why did Chris Paul sign with Spurs? How Victor Wembanyama, Gregg Popovich impacted free agency decision

Chris Paul will have a change of scenery for his 20th NBA season.

Hours after being waived by the Warriors, Paul reached an agreement on a one-year deal with the Spurs, according to TNT Sports' Chris Haynes . It will be the third team in as many seasons for Paul, who will soon have suited up for seven of the Western Conference's 15 teams.

Paul, 39, goes from a 46-win team to a Spurs team that won just 22 games in the 2023-24 season. While a championship has eluded him to this point, Paul has a unique opportunity in San Antonio.

Here's more on why the soon-to-be 20-year veteran is joining the Spurs for the upcoming season.

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Chris Paul contract

Paul signed a one-year deal worth north of $11 million, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski . His career earnings will exceed $389 million following the 2024-25 season.

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Why did Chris Paul sign with the Spurs?

Paul has an opportunity to step into a larger role as one of San Antonio's lead guards, allowing him to accelerate the franchise's rebuild around Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.

The contract agreement came after Paul had a "great talk" with Spurs Hall of Fame head coach Gregg Popovich, who sold Paul on the franchise's culture, per Haynes . Paul, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, has faced San Antonio in three different playoff series and watched the franchise win two titles during his career.

Last season, Paul averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists over 58 games (18 starts), playing primarily in a reserve role for the first time in his career. He missed significant time with a fractured left hand but returned in time for Golden State's postseason push.

Despite numbers that fall short of his career figures, Paul showed plenty of flashes, including five double-doubles and a total of 11 games with 10-plus assists. Those numbers could increase with more playmaking responsibilities in San Antonio.

The Warriors' loss in the Play-In Tournament ended a streak of 13 consecutive playoff appearances for Paul. While the Spurs are not viewed as a championship contender, Paul takes on a mentorship role similar to the one he famously embraced during the 2019-20 season with Oklahoma City.

San Antonio's young core is headlined by Wembanyama, the 20-year-old wunderkind who has shown flashes that indicate he could be in conversations as the league's best player within the next three seasons. Paul, one of the smartest players to ever play the game, will have an invaluable impact on Wembanyama's development.

Wembanyama is at his best next to a true PG. Few point guards in the history of the game are as pure as Paul.

In addition to Wembanyama, Paul will step in as a mentor to No. 4 overall pick Stephon Castle. Castle, 19, is a 6-6 point guard with a world of potential that Paul could help him realize, similar to how he took Shai Gilgeous-Alexander under his wing five seasons ago.

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Paul has seemingly been impressed by Spurs third-year forward Jeremy Sochan in the past and will assuredly have a positive impact on the development of young wings Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell.

The Western Conference is unforgiving but San Antonio's addition of Paul can accelerate the team's ascent toward a potential Play-In Tournament berth.

Paul is the connective piece but the larger leap in the standings is dependent on the sophomore growth from Wembanyama and the ways in which the supporting cast develops into their respective roles.

More than anything, Paul's decision should serve as a preview of what's to happen in the coming years. As Wembanyama continues to improve, San Antonio will become an even more attractive destination for free agents looking to experience the culture and contribute to the phenom's success.