He was great the first year; bought into what we were doing and damn near co-led us to the promised land. Something snapped last year, though. Maybe he resented the attention Harden got when he blew up in CP3's absence. Maybe he resented the team not immediately going back to our old style of play once he returned. Maybe he saw his skills declining with age and didn't handle it well. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Whatever the reason, CP3 spent most of last season in a funk. I thought the rumors of a rift between him and Harden were overblown, but one thing is definite: CP3 wanted out. Regardless of how he and the FO tried to spin it otherwise, Paul was not a happy camper by season's end and no longer wanted to be here. And that's the thing that makes this a good trade, even if other aspects make it questionable: We swapped an aging, temperamental star who could bad-mood a team into being less than it should (as he did with the Clips at the end), for a slightly younger, hopefully healthier one who has built his entire reputation on never giving less than 100%. It'll be up to MDA and staff, along with Harden, to make it work, but teams won't be able to relax at all next year with one of these two guys always on the court. It's going to be fun to watch how both sides spin it, but if Chris Paul had wanted to be here, he would have played better in the second half of last year. He didn't, and Morey sent him packing. It's easy to imagine DM and Tilman having a conversation and Tilman saying, "Hey, if he's not happy earning $40M of my money, get him out of here." Thanks for the one good season, Chris. It'll be fun seeing Steven Adams and Dennis Schroeder on those State Farm ads.
I’m not close to being a Rockets insider and know no one in an NBA office, NBA roster or any NBA agents or insiders...but I do know this as fact from someone high up at Landry’s. CP3 and James hated each other. From TF’s mouth a few months ago. Now, does that Impact how a team plays? No idea. But why not risk it.
no way he wanted out if it meant going to okc. this was a forced move by morey after every single FA thus far said no to houston wb didnt become available til about a week ago. so morey and co said f it, why not since nobody else wanted to come here
dont do that bro... dont put last year all on chris like he created the conflict because he was jealous. we DID need more player and body movement. james apparently didnt think so, and we lost to the warriors yet again.
I agree. It also sounds like James wanted him gone just a badly. When Paul started declining the marriage was doomed. Winning can solve a lot of issues.
As much as people on this site like to b**** about fake news countless reporters aren’t going to put their rep on the line for fake news. I agree they def didn’t like each other
He's definitely out. I don't buy the "he's getting a buyout and going whereever he wants" line right now. How much of a discount on his buyout is he going to take? He's an NBPA rep. The answer is 0. Which means 0 reason for the team to buy him out. I could be wrong and he elects to do that if he's desperate enough. God knows, having to move to Oklahoma would make me re-think my life quite a bit.
You don understand our cap space situation don’t you? You Do understand we had our own people to sign as well, correct? So you are whining because people didn’t want to take less money to play on a team with an over the hill overpaid PG and James Harden when there were more Lucrative choices out there? We ain’t the Warriors from the last 3 years. Hate the trade all you want but the no free agent whine is ridiculous.
OR... until WB became available, there was absolutely no way to unload CP3, regardless of what his wishes might have been.
