NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 20 things to watch this NBA season

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a foul shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 12, 2017 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 8: Chris Paul talks with James Harden /

15. Can Chris Paul and James Harden coexist?

The Houston Rockets pulled off one of the offseason’s biggest surprises when they convinced Chris Paul to pick up his 2017-18 player option to facilitate a trade. After combing the league for as many non-guaranteed contracts as he could amass, Houston general manager Daryl Morey sent a seven-player package to the Los Angeles Clippers for the nine-time All-Star.

Morey deserves credit for pulling off such a coup, but going after Paul in particular raised eyebrows. Incumbent Rockets superstar James Harden is coming off a career-best year and a second-place finish in the MVP race after thriving as a de facto point guard in new head coach Mike D’Antoni’s uptempo pace-and-space system. Why go after a ball-dominator such as CP3?

For one, Harden was “advocating hard in favor of the Paul pursuit” and “made his interest” known to Paul, Marc Stein reported at ESPN.com in late June. After Harden ran out of steam in the Rockets’ second-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, Morey declared he’d be seeking out superstar companions for Harden during the offseason. And given Harden’s ability to handle the ball, Paul can work more frequently in an off-ball role, where he knocked down 50.0 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts last season.

Paul and Harden previewed their partnership during a Drew League game this summer, where they combined for 40 points and 16 assists, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Law Murray. The Rockets only have this season to evaluate the duo before Paul becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2018, which makes their relationship one of the NBA’s most fascinating subplots heading into the 2017-18 campaign.

Next: 14. Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in OKC