Phoenix Suns' interest in Chris Paul should be real, and realistic

I haven’t consulted the analytics, but I’m guessing not many NBA teams improve long term by trading for a 35-year-old point guard due to make $85 million over the next two seasons.

But the Suns reportedly are intrigued about acquiring Thunder point guard Chris Paul.

And they should be. Paul’s an upgrade over Ricky Rubio and trading for him would be a bold move by a franchise that used to be defined by its willingness to spend to win.

As with most acquisitions, the wisdom of the move depends on the price. We don’t know what the Thunder might be asking, or what the Suns might be offering. Deals for a star player in the NBA start and end with the player’s level of interest in his new employer.…