The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Paul to Rockets; Phil out in N.Y.
All-Star to team with Harden after trade from Clippers.
There was major NBA offseason news Wednesday with Chris Paul (above) heading to Houston (joining James Harden in backcourt) in a Rockets-Clippers trade and Phil Jackson out as New York Knicks president after he oversaw one of the worst eras in team history.
Chris Paul is heading to Houston to join James Harden, and the Rockets will soon have 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.
Both the Clippers and Houston will look far different next season than they did in falling short in the playoffs again. The roster overhauls come five days after Minnesota sent three players to Chicago for AllStar Jimmy Butler.
Paul, 32, will soon 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, but he’s faced criticism for failing to help the Clippers get out of the second round of the playoffs
Paul isn’t the only star who may be leaving. Blake Griffin informed the team last week he is opting out of the last year of his contract to explore free agency. J.J. Redick is also a free agent.
In Houston, Paul joins a team eliminated by San Antonio in the conference semifinals last season.
He will add another scoring dimension in replacing Beverley in the starting lineup. Beverley received NBA defensive first-team honors last week but averaged just 9.3 points in his five seasons with the Rockets. Williams and Dekker played reserve roles last season.
The Rockets also acquired power forward Ryan Kelly from the Atlanta Hawks for cash considerations.
Knicks’ Jackson out
Phil Jackson is out as New York Knicks president after he oversaw one of the worst eras in team history and feuded with star Carmelo Anthony.
Days after Jackson reiterated his desire to trade Anthony and said he would listen to deals for Kristaps Porzingis, Madison Square Garden Chairman James Dolan reversed course and cut ties with Jackson on Wednesday.
The winner of an NBA-record 11 championships as coach, Jackson couldn’t engineer one playoff berth while running the Knicks. The team was 80-166 in his three full seasons, including a franchise-worst 17-65 in 2014-15.
Dolan said general manager Steve Mills would run the day-to-day business of the team in the short term.
Cavaliers: 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 long-time business partner Maverick Carter. The three-part documentary will be directed by filmmaker Gotham Chopra and premiere in 2018.
Raptors: Bobby Webster, 32, became the NBA’s youngest general manager when Toronto promoted him from assistant GM.