NBA Trade Rumors: Chris Paul traded to the Houston Rockets
The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to trade their point guard Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets, after he agreed to opt-in to his contract.
Wow, the Houston Rockets have agreed in principle to trade for Chris Paul to pair with James Harden. Paul had agreed to opt-in to the final year of his contract, which meant that he would not be a free agent and the Clippers could trade him to Houston. Per Adrian Wojnarowksi of The Vertical, Paul and Harden were determined to play together and found a way to make it happen.
After Chris Paul agreed to opt-in on contract, Clippers are trading All-Star guard to the Houston Rockets, league sources tell @TheVertical
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2017
As Wojnarowski adds, the deal sends Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Lou Williams and a 2018 first-round pick to the Clippers for Chris Paul. Paul had informed the Clippers that he would leave for Houston in NBA free agency, so the Clippers worked to make a deal for him.
This is great for Houston, who gets another star alongside Harden in Mike D’Antoni’s offensive scheme. For the Clippers, they were able to get a haul for their star, without letting him walk in free agency for nothing.
Next: NBA Free Agency 2017: One trade every team should make
Expectations in Houston will be soaring, as the Rockets will now have two featured superstars and will look to add pieces around them. To only give up Beverley, Dekker, Williams and a first-round pick is great value for someone that could potentially re-sign long term in Houston.
The first big move of the NBA comes before free agency begins, with Chris Paul headed to Houston to join forces with James Harden.