This year's NBA offseason will be one of the most exciting periods and we've already seen some huge trades. The biggest trade is definitely Chris Paul's, as he decided to leave the Los Angeles Clippers after playing six years for the team. Before the Clippers, Paul played for New Orleans and he will play for the Houston Rockets next season.
Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical was the first to report the trade, saying that Chris Paul agreed to opt-in on his contract and then he was traded to the Rockets. Considering that the Rockets were one of the best teams in the league last season, this trade will make them even more competitive and there's a chance that they could get deep in the playoffs and have a competitive series against the Golden State Warriors.
Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets
The best part of the trade is that the Rockets did not lose many important pieces. Houston agreed to trade Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Lou Williams and the first pick in the 2018 NBA draft to the Clippers. In return, they got one of the best point guards in the league who will have a tremendous impact on the team.
Sources: After Paul informed Clippers he'd sign w/ HOU in FA, teams agreed to deal sending Beverley, Decker, Williams and 2018 FRP for Paul. https://t.co/9Lk9FPEPbu
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 28, 2017
It will be interesting to see how good James Harden and Chris Paul will play together, but they probably won't have issues with it as they are both unselfish.
As a matter of fact, Harden led the league in assists last year with 11.2 per game, while Paul was ranked fourth with a 9.2-assist average.
With Chris Paul on the floor, James Harden will be able to go back to his natural shooting guard position, and he might have his best offensive season next year. Considering that Mike D'Antonio is a Houston Rockets head coach, and he is well known for his amazing offense, it won't be surprising if Harden averages over 30 points per game next season.
The end of the Clippers
Chris Paul's departure will turn the Los Angeles Clippers into one of the worst teams in the western conference. Even if Blake Griffin, who decided to opt out of his contract, stays with the team, the Clippers won't be as good without Chris Paul. Paul was their floor general and one of the best playmakers in the league, and the Clippers just don't have a suitable replacement for him.
In six years with the Clippers, Paul averaged 18.8 points and 9.8 assists per game. He was team's best player, but the Clippers couldn't achieve any success in the postseason, which is the biggest reason why Paul decided to leave. According to Wojnarowski, Paul and Harden were determined to play together, and they finally found a way with this big trade.
