Suns made surprising offer for Kyrie Irving

Brooklyn sent Irving to Dallas for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and a package of picks, but Phoenix made a very aggressive offer before that. According to Chris Haynes, Phoenix offered 11-time All-NBA Chris Paul, aka "The Point God," along with forward Jae Crowder, who has sat out all season awaiting a trade. 

"This may surprise folks," Haynes said on NBA TV. "Sources have told me they proposed a package based around Chris Paul, Jae Crowder and some unspecified picks."

Paul led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021, just the second time in his career Paul had made it as far as the Conference Finals. This year, Paul has missed 20 games with injuries and his normally solid mid-range shooting has abandoned him. He's making only 35.6 percent of his shots from 3-10-foot range, and Paul has the worst defensive rating of his career.

But it's telling that the Suns and new owner Mat Ishbia were willing to trade their veteran leader. Paul does have a highly tradeable contract. He's on the books for $30.8 million next season, but a team can waive him and owe only $15.8 million if he's released before June 28.

Still, Paul was an All-Star just last year, and the Suns' Finals trip was their most successful postseason in nearly 30 years. Even last year, the team went 64-18 before losing in the second round.

Clearly, Ishbia wants to put his stamp on the franchise, even if that means bringing in the polarizing Irving. Crowder will certainly be traded somewhere before the Feb. 9 deadline. Shockingly, it seems like CP3 might be as well.