Spending the remainder of his career on a rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder team cannot be what Chris Paul had in mind.
Paul was traded to OKC on Thursday as part of a shocking deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for a pair of first-round picks and two pick swaps. The Thunder have dealt away Paul George and Westbrook over the last week, accumulated draft picks, and are in clear rebuilding mode. They have no use for an aging point guard like Paul, who would prefer to compete for a championship.
Accordingly, the Thunder are expected to explore trades for CP3, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Houston hoped to find third-team destination preferable to Chris Paul, but ultimately leaves it OKC to execute next step once Presti confers w/ CP3 agent Leon Rose. Miami remains possibility for Paul (3 years, $124M) — and OKC obviously has picks to incentivize deal, if needed.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2019
Woj mentions the Miami Heat as a potential destination for Paul. That’s the same team the Thunder were talking to about a Westbrook trade.
The biggest impediment to a Paul trade remains his contract. He is owed $124 million over the next three seasons, is already 34, and has chronic hamstring problems. It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting him based on the money he is owed.
