3 galaxy brain Chris Paul trades to blow your chakras wide open
By Ian Levy
2. Chris Paul is back in Hornets’ teal
For fans of a certain age, Chris Paul just looks right in a Hornets uniform. Technically they were the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets when he was playing for them but, visually, the aesthetic is just perfect.
This deal puts him back in the color palette where he belongs, gives the Suns something to quickly rebuild around and maybe helps the Hornets pivot quickly.
The Hornets shed some serious salary here with Rozier’s deal being one year longer than Paul’s and only taking back expiring deals with him. They get to put Paul in the same locker room with LaMelo Ball, which could lead to heads exploding or could be just the thing to help LaMelo harness his creativity into an efficient package. They also pick up a mid-first-round pick this year from Phoenix giving them two picks in what is a loaded draft class.
The Suns get a new point guard still in his theoretical prime and a year-and-a-half of Gordon Hayward. Jalen McDaniels is a nice addition, a young player who has become a strong wing defender and who could be insurance if they can’t or don’t want to re-sign Cam Johnson. The package gives the Suns a chance to be frisky this season if Devin Booker can get healthy and at least the template to make some offseason tweaks and try to jump back into contention next year.