After getting Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers, the Houston Rockets are eyeing either Paul George or Carmelo Anthony to form a “Big 3” with MVP runner-up James Harden. According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Houston general manager Daryl Morey had a vision of bringing in Paul and George to the Rockets. Windhorst believes that the Rockets are trying to convince George to push for a trade to Houston so they can try to beat the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.

The Rockets do not have enough trade pieces to land George after shipping Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker and a 2018 first-round pick to the Clippers for Paul. However, the Pacers may be interested in getting Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon. The Rockets can also pursue Anthony if ever he agrees to a buyout of his deal with the New York Knicks, who recently fired Phil Jackson as team president.

Paul met with Clippers Tuesday

Chris Paul informed the Clippers that he planned to leave in free agency if he declined his option. After a meeting, Paul didn't like what he heard from the team, according to sources.

Instead of opting out, Paul agreed to exercise the player option in for the final year of his contract worth $24.2 million to facilitate the trade. With the trade, Paul can still receive a five-year deal worth $205 million from the Houston Rockets after this season. If Paul opted out, the most he could sign was s a four-year deal worth just more than $152 million from other teams. Aside from the Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs were reported to be after Paul’s services as a replacement for the injured Tony Parker.

Paul’s relationship with coach Doc Rivers deteriorated

According to Michael Eaves of ESPN, the relationship between Paul and coach Doc Rivers, who is also the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, had turned sour after the team acquired Doc’s son Austin Rivers during the 2015-16 season.

Citing his sources, Eaves reported that Paul was unhappy over Doc Rivers’ preferential treatment of his son over other Clippers players. While Doc will yell at other players for mistakes committed during practices and games, he usually spares Austin, despite his son doing the same thing.

Chris Paul also lost his trust of Rivers after the latter junked a trade last season that would have sent Anthony and Sasha Vujacic to the Clippers for Jamal Crawford, Paul Pierce, and Austin Rivers. The 32-year-old Paul averaged 18.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 9.2 assists in 61 games last season.