Share Video
The Thunder acquired Paul on Thursday along with protected 2024 and 2026 first-round picks and first-round pick swaps in 2021 and 2025 from the Rockets in exchange for Russell Westbrook, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Though Houston general manager Daryl Morey previously dismissed rumors earlier in the summer suggesting Paul demanded a trade amid discord with backcourt mate James Harden, the Rockets ultimately decided to ship the nine-time All-Star elsewhere in order to bring aboard Harden's former teammate in Oklahoma City. While Paul would project to see a sizable bump in usage if he sticks with the Thunder, Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti is reportedly conferring with the point guard's agent, Leon Rose, to reroute Paul elsewhere, according to Wojnarowski. Since the 34-year-old is due $124 million over the next three seasons, the Thunder may not be able to procure a sizable return in any trade unless the team is willing to eat a decent portion of the money Paul is owed. With averages of 15.6 points, 8.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 three-pointers and 2.0 steals in 32.0 minutes per game in 2018-19, Paul still remains productive at this stage of his career, though injuries have limited him to fewer than 65 games in each of the past three seasons.
