The Houston Rockets have acquired nine-time All-Star Chris Paul in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to multiple reports.
The trade, first reported by the Vertical, will see the Clippers receive Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams and a 2018 first-round pick in return for the 32-year-old. The Clippers risked losing Paul to free agency for nothing before they made the trade – he had opted in for the last year of his contract so LA could work on a deal.
Chris Paul and James Harden were determined to play together, and found a way with Rockets-Clippers trade agreed upon today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 28, 2017
Paul will team up with James Harden, who finished second to Russell Westbrook in this year’s MVP race. Whether the pair ever reach the NBA finals in a Western Conference that also includes the dominant Golden State Warriors is another question. The Rockets have lost to the Warriors in the playoffs in two of the last three seasons – this year they were beaten by the San Antonio Spurs, another Western Conference powerhouse, in the conference semi-finals.
The Clippers, meanwhile, have not lived up to their potential in recent years, despite having the talents of Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. They have lost in the first-round of the playoffs for the past two years.
Paul was drafted fifth overall by New Orleans in 2005. He has been named to the All-NBA first-team four times and is to the defensive team seven times. He has also won two Olympic gold medals for Team USA.
