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The Houston Rockets' general manager Daryl Morey has a huge storm brewing amongst his ranks and its hard to determine whether he will avoid disaster or walk right into the perfect storm. There has been trouble getting a new deal worked out for head coach Mike D’Antoni as the management wants to tie some of his earnings to playoff rounds won. D’Antoni, after stops in Phoenix, New York and now Houston, has never been able to move past a conference final.
The even bigger concern is the perceived rift between Chris Paul and James Harden - two ball-dominant guards, one in his prime and the other aging. For his part, Chris Paul has denied he ever asked or demanded to be traded but those rumors won’t desist. In the midst of a super-rich deal that sees the somewhat injury prone Paul owed $123 million plus over the next 3 seasons, his contract is largely thought untradeable.
However, stranger things have happened and rumors persist Paul could be traded. Here is a quick look at three trade partners who might be willing to assume ownership of Paul’s paycheque.
#3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal and Ian Mahinmi
Early in the 2018/19 NBA season, the Wizards front office announced they were willing to blow up their roster. They eventually dealt Otto Porter Jr. to Phoenix in exchange for Trevor Ariza. By the turn of the new year, John Wall had damaged his heel/Achilles tendon and was done for the year.
While Wall and Beal have been considered one of the best backcourt duos in recent memory, their relationship has been strained by rumors and innuendo that the Wizards play better team ball with Beal running the offense. Its an odd belief as Wall was averaging over 8apg at the time of his injury in December 2018 and 9.2apg for his career.
The Wizards and Rockets could swap Bradley Beal and Ian Mahinmi (combined $41.3 million) for Chris Paul’s ($35.6 million) and a 1st round draft pick. With Wall likely out until sometime in 2020 and the Wizards interested in trading him anyway, Paul at least gives you a good point guard who can start the season healthy. A future first-round pick also helps Washington build for the future.
Beal would give Houston another premier guard who is used to playing off the ball and can shoot. Mahinmi with two years left on his deal could back up Capela.
#2. Boston Celtics:
The Houston Rockets could make a 1 for 1 deal with the Boston Celtics of Gordon Hayward for Chris Paul. Hayward, at the very least, proved he is healthy after a horrific injury ended his 2017/18 season in just 5 minutes. It’s a deal that would do two things for the Houston Rockets.
First, it would reduce payroll by about $4 million dollars as Hayward makes $31.2 million a season. If Hayward can rediscover his all-star form when he was in Utah he will help Houston's goals to advance deep in the playoffs in 2020. Secondly, Hayward gives Harden another player who can space the floor and does not necessarily need the ball in his hands.
As for the Celtics, Hayward plays the same position as Jayson Tatum (SF). Tatum appears to have better talent and Gordon removed from the roster means more minutes for Tatum's development.
Kyrie Irving may defect from Boston and Terry Rozier is a restricted free agent who did not sign a rookie contract extension last fall. The Celtics may need help for Marcus Smart at the point guard spot. Paul, if healthy, could do a good job as a veteran leading the young talented Celtics
#3. Charlotte Hornets: Nicholas Batum and Bismack Byombo:
The Houston Rockets might want to consider the Charlotte Hornets as a viable trading partner. The Hornets are a team that is about to lose one of the NBA’s top point guards in Kemba Walker to free agency. While the Hornets may not be a big market team if they want fans in their arena they need to replace Walker with someone resembling a star.
Paul is not a bad replacement at the point for Walker and a deal that sends Nicolas Batum and Bismack Biyombo to Houston could work. Once again a player like Batum does not threaten Harden’s ball dominant play but could thrive as a floor spacer feeding off of kick outs from Harden. Batum is also a lean athletic defender. Biyombo would give Houston more of what Capela does in terms of rebounding and shot blocking off of the bench and allow the Rockets second unit to defend aggressively on the perimeter.
Such a deal would see $41 million in salary return to Houston for offloading Paul’s $35.2. However, Batum has just three years on his contract at $24 million and Biyombo has 2 years at $17 million.
Daryl Morey does have his work cut out for him if he cannot get his head coach and two main stars on the same page. If Harden and Paul cannot co-exist, then the expectation is the younger and more talented Harden would be kept in Houston while a new home is found for Chris Paul. A $123 million dollar contract and 34 years of age make moving Paul a tough prospect because few teams would be willing to take the chance. In sports, however, never say never.
