NBA
League sources have mentioned the Houston Rockets as a potential landing spot for veteran PG Chris Paul
Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.
All posts by Zach WolpinUpdated23 May 2023
The 2023 postseason ended earlier than expected for the Phoenix Suns. Denver beat them in six games and that led to the firing of head coach Monty Williams. About a week ago, reports surfaced that the Suns intend to have Chris Paul as their starting PG for the 2023-24 season. However, league sources have mentioned the Houston Rockets as a potential landing spot for the veteran PG.
Phoenix has already announced that they are guaranteeing Paul’s full, $30 million salary for next season. That could draw away suitors like the Phoenix Suns. Thirty million is a lot for a 38-year-old PG that is slowly starting to slow down. James Harden is Houston’s #1 target in free agency this offseason. Paul seems to be their backup option.
Earlier this season, the Suns had explored the idea of trading Paul. The team was then sold and Matt Ishbia took over. That led to Phoenix’s blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant. Luckily, Paul was still valued by management and he was not traded.
If Chris Paul becomes available, the Houston Rockets could consider acquiring him, per @KellyIko pic.twitter.com/9rQu642Cg0
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 23, 2023
The Houston Rockets are serious about adding veteran depth to their roster for next season
James Harden is the player that the Houston Rockets want the most. The two sides have a mutual interest in a reunion for next season. Harden is still well-liked in Houston and the Rockets would love to add his veteran depth. This past season, the Rockets were the second-youngest team in the NBA.
Houston needs to add a few players this offseason that can help build the roster back to the Western Conference contender they were not too long ago. While the Rockets lust over Harden, they have a backup plan. That is where Veteran PG Chris Paul comes into play.
His offensive scoring abilities are not the same as they used to be, but his basketball IQ and court vision are unmatched. Two seasons ago he led the NBA with (10.8) assists per game, the fifth time he’s done that in his career. Despite Harden being more appealing, Paul might be the right move for the Rockets.
He’s still a savvy PG who can dish the ball to scorers, something that Houston has a lot of. However, Paul will turn 39 at the end of next season and he’s dealt with some ongoing injury history the past few seasons. Time will tell what happens with Harden and Paul this offseason.
