Chris Paul Rumors: 'Possibility' Warriors Will Waive Star amid NBA Trade Buzz | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

There is "still a possibility" that the Golden State Warriors will decide to waive veteran guard Chris Paul before his $30 million contract becomes guaranteed, ESPN's Kendra Andrews reported.

"But sources told ESPN that the Warriors wanted to help ensure Paul had a good landing place on another team — if they can find the right deal," Andrews wrote.

The Warriors pushed back the guarantee date on Paul's contract from Friday to Sunday, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Golden State will now "keep exploring trades" for Paul, who averaged 9.2 points mostly off the bench in 58 games last season, per Wojnarowski.

Paul shot 44.1 percent from the field and 37.1 from three, but his overall shooting volume decreased as he posted the lowest-scoring season of his career.

The Warriors seem to be looking to replace the veteran guard as the team retools the roster after missing the playoffs for the third time in five seasons.

That could include making a bid for Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George, who would slot in as the Warriors' third star alongside the team's existing core of Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

George is seeking a four-year maximum contract, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst (h/t RealGM), so trading Paul and allowing Klay Thompson to walk in free agency could be necessary as the Warriors look to dip below the luxury tax threshold next season.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob said in February that avoiding the luxury tax entirely was "plan 1A" for the 2024-25 season. It sounds like the Warriors are willing to waive Paul, if necessary, to further that goal.

It also seems that the team's preferred option would be a trade, and NBA insider Marc Stein reported earlier this week that the Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers would both have "interest" in adding the veteran guard.

The Clippers could be looking to add Paul to their backcourt with reported free agent target Kyle Lowry reportedly likely to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Meanwhile Stein noted that Paul is a longtime friend of Lakers star LeBron James, but that interest in him "might not be unanimous within the organization."

If one of these teams is interested in Paul, they will need to make a decision on the veteran guard before the Warriors' new Sunday deadline.