Following his sudden exile from Houston, Chris Paul embraced his arrival in Oklahoma City, establishing a home, building a culture, and eventually leading the team of youngsters to the 5th best record in the West.
It’s the kind of performance that makes you wonder why the Rockets decided to let him go in the first place.
Well, in a recent report by Tim MacMahon of ESPN, the CP3 trade was a result of orders that came from the very top.
According to @espn_macmahon on the Chris Paul/Russell Westbrook trade;
“That trade was made because Tilman Fertitta (Rockets Owner) wanted it made. He thought Chris Paul’s contract was the worst he’d ever seen in business or sports.” pic.twitter.com/tXvu9GBLKR
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 16, 2020
Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta forced Paul out because he believed his contract was among the worst in the NBA. On that front, he may not be wrong. Paul, a 10x All-Star who turned 35 in May, is owed over $80 million over the next two years.
So far, however, he has proven he can still perform at a high level. With averages of 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 5 rebounds per game on 48% shooting, Chris was among the best guards in the game this past season.
Meanwhile, in Houston, the partnership between Harden and Westbrook didn’t quite pan out how they’d hoped and just a year after they were brought together, rumors of their departure are already beginning to surface. Now, with Paul, Mike D’Antoni, and even Daryl Morey gone from the team, nobody knows what’s in store for them.
It seems like they traded one bad situation for another — except this time, there might be no easy way out.
