Rockets land Paul, join ‘weapon’s race’
Relationship with LA turned rocky
HOUSTON — Chris Paul is heading to Houston to join James Harden, giving the Rockets two All-Stars in the backcourt to lead their chase for a championship.
In the NBA’s second blockbuster trade in less than a week, the Rockets acquired Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in exchange for Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Darrun Hilliard, DeAndre Liggins, Kyle Wiltjer, a protected first-round pick next year and cash considerations. The Rockets acquired Hilliard from Detroit and Liggins from Dallas for cash considerations before adding them to the deal.
“It’s a weapons race in the NBA and you’re either in the weapons race or on the sidelines,” Houston general manager Daryl Morey said. “We felt like with James Harden in his prime and Chris Paul in his prime this gives us a real shot to chase the juggernaut teams that are out there. This puts us right there with them.”
Both the Clippers and Houston will look far different next season than they did in again falling short in the playoffs as NBA free agency opensSaturday.
Paul, 32, will be playing for his third team after opting in for the last year of his contract so the Clippers could work on a deal. The nine-time All-Star has averaged 18.7 points, 9.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals over his 12-year career, though he has been dogged with criticism in recent years for failing to help the Clippers get out of the second round of the playoffs. His relationship with Clippers coach Doc Rivers had grown rocky — possibly over the team’s refusal to include Austin Rivers, the coach’s son, in a deal to acquire Carmelo Anthony — and there also was a sense that Paul and fellow AllStar Blake Griffin had tired of playing with each other.
Houston coach Mike D’Antoni says he’s not worried about how Harden and Paul will play together.
“You can sit around all day and say why it wouldn’t work, but it does because they want it to work,” he said.
HEAT: Miami apparently is first up to the plate when it comes to the free agency of Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Pat Riley and his staff will meet with Hayward on Saturday, with the Jazz to meet with Hayward on Monday. The Boston Celtics are expected to receive the third meeting.
KINGS: Euroleague star Bogdan Bogdanovic has reached an agreement with Sacramento on a three-year, $36 million contract, The Bee is reporting. LEBRON-DOCUMENTARY: LeBron James is teaming with Showtime on a documentary that will examine the modern NBA and the league’s impact on popular culture. James, who has been producing TV and movie projects for several years, will serve as an executive producer with longtime business partner Maverick Carter. RAPTORS: Bobby Webster has been promoted to general manager, making the 32-yearold assistant the youngest GM in the NBA.