Chris Paul Opts In; Then Traded To Houston

[Devils Advocate]

He was gone any way so this was a great trade. It should be very obvious that is due to West now being apart of the team. I think the trade was stupid for Houston. Paul will not fit at all, especially with D'Antoni as he doesn't like to run or take quick shots. Harden will probably get his numbers because CP3 will differ to him all day but Rocket fans may be disappointed in Paula impact.

I also feel the pairing not meeting expectations will eventually put D'Antoni on the hot seat.

[SF_Warriors]

Intel from Michael Eaves, ex Clippers beat.

Here's some information on the Chris Paul trade. First the MICRO:
Paul's relationship with Doc Rivers started to deteriorate rapidly after the Clippers acquired Austin Rivers. Several members of the team felt Austin acted entitled because his dad was both the coach and the President of Basketball Operations. In the view of the tenured players, Austin Rivers never tried to fit in, and when players tried to address the situation with him, he still did not respond the way the core of the team wanted him to. It led to resentment within the locker room, which often played out during games. One of Paul's biggest contentions with Doc was that Paul, and other players, felt Doc treated Austin more favorably than other players. He would yell at guys for certain things during games and practices, but not get on Austin in the same manner for similar transgressions.

But what really solidified Paul's dissatisfaction with Doc was a proposed trade involving Carmelo Anthony last season. New York offered Carmelo and Sasha Vujacic to the Clippers in exchange for Jamal Crawford, Paul Pierce and Austin Rivers, a deal to which Rivers ultimately said no. That event led Paul to feel that keeping his son on the roster was more important to Doc than improving the team. So, ultimately, Paul lost both trust and faith in Doc. As one league executive put it, "Chris despises Doc."
(I was also told that when Paul met with the team to inform them of his plans, Jerry West was not in attendance. It was only Doc and Lawrence Frank.)
MACRO
This move is a win-win for Chris Paul, and it was all part of a master plan. By opting into the final year of his current contract and pressuring the Clippers to trade him to Houston, Paul will be in the exact same situation next summer. He can re-sign with the Rockets for 5 years and $200+ million or sign a 4-year deal for about $150 million with another team. In addition, he will save several million dollars in state income tax.

Also, by being committed to the Rockets for only one season, it gives him a year to see if he can actually co-exist and pursue a title with James Harden. But even beyond that, this move gives Paul more flexibility to join LeBron James in 2018. If he stayed in LA or signed the max deal with the Clippers and forced them to do a sign-and-trade with the Rockets, Paul and LeBron could only join forces at one location. Now, they will have the ability to pick and choose wherever they want to go as a tandem, which could be Houston, LA {Lakers or Clippers (provided Doc is no longer with organization)}, or any other destination in-between.

That's why the Rivers family are my most hated persons in the league.

But I don't want to see LeBron in LA or Houston, CP3 should go to Cleveland tbh

Dang! Did doc really say no to trading those guys for melo?

I mean, we all know melo may not be the player he once was, but that team could have been a legitimate challenge to the spurs/warriors

cp3
reddick
melo
blake
DJ

That team would not have any holes offensively or position-wise..and melo still is a better player than any of those he would have been traded for.
For that move alone, if I was ballmer I would have fired him immediately.

[510TWSS]

Shotgun style approach to asset collection for the Clips. Don't overly like anyone they got but the sum of their parts may play up any individual player. These guys are just future assets to be moved for the right deal or picks.

[MartinToVaught]

What makes u think this is his doing? Consultant/Adviser is really just a moniker they give a respected player around the league that still needs a check. Untill Doc gets the boot ill assume this is him

West is a "consultant" on paper, but I think the GM-level money that Ballmer's paying him is more telling of what his actual role is. If Doc still had all the power, we'd have gotten fleeced in this trade.

U did..thats why i think its still him

Not really. If Doc was still fully in charge, we would have gotten nothing in return for CP3. Instead, we managed to get a first-round pick and several decent players in return for someone that the Rockets didn't need to trade for at all. Compared to the alternative, I'd say we did very well for ourselves. That's the Jerry West effect.

[symbiotic]

The Clippers were a little bit hasty here.

With Phil Jackson gone, they had a grand opportunity to get Kristaps Porzingis & Willy Hernangomez & Frank Ntilikina & all first round draft picks+pick swaps from 2020 to 2031 from the Knicks.

You know James Dolan is stupid enough to do this, then blame the fans for his myopic impatience.

[HotTubMike]

He was gone any way so this was a great trade. It should be very obvious that is due to West now being apart of the team. I think the trade was stupid for Houston. Paul will not fit at all, especially with D'Antoni as he doesn't like to run or take quick shots. Harden will probably get his numbers because CP3 will differ to him all day but Rocket fans may be disappointed in Paula impact.

I also feel the pairing not meeting expectations will eventually put D'Antoni on the hot seat.

Well, pretty intelligent basketball minds seem to think it will work includingn D'Antoni, CP3 and Harden...

Having CP3 + Harden also gives the Rockets a real chance to attract other stars to form a superteam.... Who knows? Melo? PG13? Millsap? Lebron in 2018...

It was a no brainer even if there are questions about the fit

Houston wasn't doing anything with the roster they had yesterday so this is a good development in most Houston fans opinions. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

[pwrshft99]

This feels like owning two fast cars, you can only drive one at a time.

nothing wrong with that lol..better than none

But sometimes it rains... And a nice 4x4 SUV that can go anywhere is nice to have in the garage too lol

[LikeABosh]

Actually Durant/Curry/Kawhi lost to Westbrook this year because of individual success. One of those 3 should win if you want to reward team success.

I don't know why you're bringing those 3 up. Did they all finish as a clear 2nd this past year and in 2015? It was a race between Harden and Westbrook this past year and between Harden and Curry in 2015

I brought them up to illustrate that Harden was a beneficiary of not rewarding winning this year. It would come down to Kawhi vs Durant or Curry if it was only about winning. The fact that it came down to Harden and Westbrook was because of an emphasis on individual stats in the first place.

Okay, and? I'm talking about the front runners in 2015 and 2017. I wasn't commenting on how we decided they're front runners or who should be the front runners. I'm only comparing team success and individual accomplishments relative to each other. Not to the rest of the league. If Harden beat out Westbrook with the tie breaker of team success then it would make no sense to say, "Well, if it's all about winning then give it to Durant." Huh? Durant, Curry and Kawhi are irrelevant in this discussion. Saying Harden is the MVP over everyone else because of team success and saying Harden could've beat out Westbrook because of team success are two completely different ideas. You seem to think I'm arguing for the former

[LoyalKing]

I fail to understand this for CP3. He really thinks that he is going to get a full 5y-max in Houston at the age of 33 with Les and Morey ?

Not only CP3 is not a great fit with Harden, but CP3 chose one of the cheapest owner in the NBA when he is on the verge to get his last fat contract.

This move screams like a regret in one year. Terrible choice by CP3 and his agent.

[ISayshowmee]

Who will be the lead dog for the Rockets now ? Will this be an issue ?

[Speedlot]

Houston got fleeced imo. Or do they think first team all nba defense Cp3 can cover harden? SMDH

Read on Twitter

[HotTubMike]

Houston got fleeced imo. Or do they think first team all nba defense Cp3 can cover harden? SMDH

Read on Twitter

How did Houston get fleeced? They didn't lose hardly anything... got a star and are building a contender... CP3 is just the first move.. be patient. It's not like the Rockets are standing still now.

[vxmike]

I'm just trying to figure out how Lou Williams and Jamaal Crawford mesh together.

But IF the Clippers can sign Kyle Lowry then it's a solid deal for Los Angeles considering it sounds like Paul told them upfront he was gone. But they should have gone for Harrell at least in the package.

I think the Clips are still capped out with the incoming money plus Blakes cap hold.

[Downtown]

I see the Clippers also got Harrell. All in all they picked up some nice assets in return for someone who was going to leave anyways. If they can sign Lowry they've had a good offseason.

[turk3d]

Great move by Houston. Are now back in the thick of things as far as the West goes. I don't think the Clips had much choice and at least managed to get something half way decent on return.

[OkcSinceSGA]

I'm just trying to figure out how Lou Williams and Jamaal Crawford mesh together.

But IF the Clippers can sign Kyle Lowry then it's a solid deal for Los Angeles considering it sounds like Paul told them upfront he was gone. But they should have gone for Harrell at least in the package.

I think the Clips are still capped out with the incoming money plus Blakes cap hold.

Correct. Unless Blake walks all we have is full MLE.

[fouronesix22]

D'antoni is going to have to figure this one out... How do you run your offense now with two players that need the ball as much as they do? Paul has a high ego to which he will bitch and moan if he isnt running the offense and you heard it hear first that I am not a believer this would work out. You will be hearing reports of "disgruntled paul" or harden next season and an overall drop off of the Rockets. Harden was putting mvp type numbers as the starting PG, where is he going to play Paul to where they share the spot light? If the secondary playmaker was such an issue they could have gotten a back up pg that can do that without getting in hardens way

Harden as a point guard was a success already and I think they were a star PF/C away from making noise along with PG or Melo. But if they do shell out their bench just to get melo (another ball dominant player who probably still hates D'antoni) then I guarantee you this experiment fails

Any time you can trade a few decent players for one of the better players in the nba it should be done (cp3 is easily a top 10-12 player)

the goal is for them to go beat the warriors. I dont think Cp3, harden and a weak bench is the answer

[bulliedog8]

I would love to see the old ass banana boat crew get together.

CP0
Wade
Melo
Lebron
Center

That team would get ran out of the gym and I wouldnt see them making the finals next year. Would be a conference finals team at best, but most likely a 1st or 2nd round team only.

Is this a joke?


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You dont think they even make the playoffs or what? I think they at least make it.

[Dupp]

Wow wow wow.

Can't believe he opted in. Crazy.

Good on clippers for accomadating his move.

Rockets just get stuff done. Underrated front office. Now go get milsap.

[HotTubMike]

D'antoni is going to have to figure this one out... How do you run your offense now with two players that need the ball as much as they do? Paul has a high ego to which he will bitch and moan if he isnt running the offense and you heard it hear first that I am not a believer this would work out. You will be hearing reports of "disgruntled paul" or harden next season and an overall drop off of the Rockets. Harden was putting mvp type numbers as the starting PG, where is he going to play Paul to where they share the spot light? If the secondary playmaker was such an issue they could have gotten a back up pg that can do that without getting in hardens way

Harden as a point guard was a success already and I think they were a star PF/C away from making noise along with PG or Melo. But if they do shell out their bench just to get melo (another ball dominant player who probably still hates D'antoni) then I guarantee you this experiment fails

Any time you can trade a few decent players for one of the better players in the nba it should be done (cp3 is easily a top 10-12 player)

the goal is for them to go beat the warriors. I dont think Cp3, harden and a weak bench is the answer

Who says this is the roster the Rockets roll into 2017/2018 with.... seriously... there are obviously other things going on here. Have some patience.