Chris Paul will have surgery next week to repair a fracture in his left hand and is expected to be out four-to-six weeks after the operation, according to multiple reports.
Paul, 38, fractured his left hand in a collision with Detroit’s Jaden Ivey during Friday’s game against the Pistons. Paul has now had 11 hand injuries in his 19-year career, five to his non-shooting hand and six to his right.
At the latest, this timeline has Paul returning the week before All-Star weekend on Feb. 18 and, notably, sometime around the Feb. 8 trade deadline. It’s possible Paul played his last game as a Warrior on Friday as his expiring contract makes him an appealing asset for teams both interested in his Hall of Fame resume and flexible contract. Paul is earning $30.8 million this year and his $30 million next year is non-guaranteed.
While the injury may deflate Paul’s trade value, that he’s expected to recover around the deadline could appeal to interested teams.
The Warriors will miss Paul’s steady hand as a playmaker and organizer on the court. The veteran has also filled in as a needed vocal leader and communicator, always in his teammates’ ear on the court and behind the scenes to help gel what’s been a chaotic season so far.
“I feel for him, at the same time, it’s the next man up,” rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis said. “Chris never loses his voice. Being on the bench, being able to talk to us, that’s one of his best attributes and that’s something he won’t lose. He’ll still be invested in the game, I feel for him.”