Clippers Trade Chris Paul To Rockets In Blockbuster Deal

With everyone in the NBA talking about Paul George and where he might land before next season, the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets made a blockbuster trade on Wednesday which may be the beginning of the next super team.

According to ESPN, the Clippers have made a shocking move to trade superstar Chris Paul to the Rockets to play alongside James Harden:

Chris Paul is heading to Houston to join James Harden, and the Rockets will have two All-Stars in the backcourt to lead their chase for a championship after a blockbuster trade with the LA Clippers on Wednesday.

The Clippers were thought to be the overwhelming favorite to sign Paul this summer. He intended to opt out of his deal and re-sign a five-year deal upwards of $200 million. Rumors surfaced of Paul’s intentions to talk to the San Antonio Spurs and Rockets in free agency, but it didn’t seem likely that he’d leave Los Angeles.

Apparently, Paul made his intentions known to the Clippers brass and opted into his deal with the team in order for them to trade him to get something in return. Los Angeles received the following trade package in return, via ESPN:

The Rockets will send Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, DeAndre Liggins, Darrun Hilliard, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Wiltjer, a top-three protected 2018 first-round pick and $661,000 to the Clippers in exchange for Paul, who said on Twitter that he was going through an “unbelievable amount of emotions right now.”

Although bringing in Paul significantly upgrades the Rockets roster, Houston isn’t done wheeling and deal with talk of the franchise going after a third star. That star may be George or Carmelo Anthony.