Why Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets Might Not Be the Blockbuster Deal That We Think it is

By Djack

Yesterday, out for left field came a blockbuster trade deal that almost nobody anticipated. It looked as if the Clippers were going to lose Chris Paul to free agency for absolutely nothing, when at the final hour they were able to pull off a deal to get something in return for him. The trade included sending Chris Paul to the Rockets for Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverley, and a 2018 first round pick. The Clippers didn't get much value in return for Paul, Beverley and Williams are good players, but they aren't anything you can build your future around. As for Sam Dekker, he's a solid wing that can maybe contribute towards the future of this Clipper organization, although I see him more as a role player than anything else. The first round pick they got will end up being anywhere from the 27th to the 30th pick in the draft, so that's not all that valuable either. At the end of the day the Clippers were going to lose Paul regardless, so the fact they were able to trade him is a win for them regardless of the return.

The Rockets come out of this trade looking like the obvious winner, which is definitely the case, you can't look bad after adding one of the leagues most elite point guards. The real question is can James Harden and Chris Paul work together. That is the part where this trade gets a little fuzzy to me because their games don't compliment each other. In fact, their games are pretty identical and pretty ball oriented, so how is this going to work.

If anyone can figure out how to get these guys enough shots and enough time with the ball it's Mike D'Antoni. The guy is offensive genius, give him two guys that can be playmakers with the ball and I'm sure he'll find a way to put huge points on the scoreboard. Still, the fact remains that CP3 likes to dominate the ball, either creating shots for other or himself, and Harden essentially does the same, so who will be the central part of this new Rockets team. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

In no way do I think this move really makes the Rockets a threat to Golden State. Essentially meaning they'll end up in the same position as last year just maybe losing a couple weeks later, but the result will be the same. Although, Chris Paul might not be the guy you want to add to carry you past the second round since he's never done it before. Anyways, unless the Rockets add another big piece this move doesn't impress me because they're still miles behind Golden State talent wise, leading me to believe this will only end badly in Houston because there's no chance of winning anything major and a great chance that Harden and Chris Paul clash heads over who deserves the ball more. Well, at least it'll give us another interesting storyline to watch next regular season since the actual competition isn't ever entertaining. This is today's NBA, love it or hate it, that's the reality of the situation.