TrueLAfan wrote:
BTW, CP3 would be a great pickup for 2 years/$7 million. (Put a $1 million buyout on that second year). That’s minimum salary, and would only count $2 million against the cap. Paul is still pesky, can still shoot some, passes well without making mistakes, and—surprisingly—is available pretty often. He’s played between 1500 and 2300 minutes every season since turning 35. Getting 1500-1600 minutes out of Chris Paul, even a somewhat diminished Chris Paul, is so worth a minimum deal.
FTR, I predicted TEN YEARS ago that CP3 was worth re-signing, that Steve Nash played well through age 35 and Chris had the same kind of game that would age well. [By contrast, Blake was a WRECK by age 32.] CP3 has played 58 or more games ever since, even at age 39.
Here's an odd thought I haven't seen explored yet--Beard. Chris left LAC for two reasons, IMO--to get away from a recently re-signed Blake Griffin and to play with Harden. And they were a helluva tandem for HOU--good pals, always talking DEEP basketball well beyond most of their teammates. They won 65 GAMES together one year.
Then it gets foggy. Did Chris ask out? Did Beard push him out? Regardless, Chris was OUT, and HOU paid A LOT to dump Chris's huge contract.
- Houston Rockets Received:
Russell Westbrook, a former NBA MVP and All-Star guard, who was in the second year of a five-year, $206-million contract, with a salary of $38.5 million for the 2019-2020 season.
Oklahoma City Thunder Received:
Chris Paul, who was in the first year of a four-year, $150-million contract, having played 58 games in the 2018-2019 season due to injuries.
Two first-round draft picks (2024 and 2026).
Two first-round pick swaps (2021 and 2025).
https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-relationship-between-rockets-stars-james-harden-chris-paul-termed-unsalvageable-200951028.html
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/rockets-star-james-harden-wanted-chris-paul-out-of-houston-prior-to-trade-with-thunder-per-report/
- Per ESPN's Tim MacMahon, one of Paul's "biggest beefs" with Harden was his lack of interest in participating in the Rockets offense when he didn't have the ball, including "sometimes barely stepping over half court while spectating when Paul had the ball."
Paul was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in July 2019, with Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reporting on X ) that he and Harden no longer communicate, stating, "We don't talk, communicate, nothing like that," but wished Harden the best. Harden has not publicly detailed his side extensively, but his actions suggest he was ready to move on, as the Rockets continued with Westbrook.
Rockets’ James Harden told Mike D’Antoni ‘we’ve got to get Chris (Paul) out of here’ during final playoff loss
James Harden reportedly asked Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni to "get Chris Paul out of here."
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-james-harden-told-mike-dantoni-weve-got-to-get-chris-paul-out-of-here-during-final-playoff-loss
So, do they kiss and make up? Neither has a ring or a 60-win season since they parted ways.
- The delicate relationship between Houston Rockets stars James Harden and Chris Paul has been termed “unsalvageable” and the star players want a divorce, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Paul went to Rockets management and demanded a trade, and Harden issued a “him or me” edict following the Rockets’ second-round loss to the Golden State Warriors, sources said.
The backcourt mates went nearly two months without speaking to each other during the season, sources said, creating a tenuous environment for teammates and everyone involved with the franchise.
