Rockets trade for Chris Paul, send Patrick Beverley Sam Dekker and more to Clippers

Nine time NBA All-Star and surefire Hall of Famer Chris Paul will be putting on a Houston Rockets jersey next season.

Daryl Morey does not bluff. In a cavalier declaration he said the Houston Rockets have something up their sleeve this summer and now CP3 will create a historic guard duo alongside James Harden.

Houston sent Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Lou Williams and next year’s first round draft pick, top 3 protected, to the L.A. Clippers for Paul on a sign-and-trade. Paul will be signing a contract for a single year with the Clippers then be traded to Houston.

The trade will preserve Paul’s Bird rights, meaning the point guard would be eligible for a maximum level contract extension after next season. As the head of the NBA Players Association Paul recently altered the new collective bargaining agreement to allow that contract to be five years and more than $200 million.

Beverley is on a sweetheart contract at $7 million a season and just placed on first team All-Defense alongside Paul. His inclusion was likely mandatory to make the deal work.

While Rockets fans enjoyed Dekker’s hustle and Williams’ instant offense it unlikely they will be missed after Paul throws a lob to Clint Capela then knocks Steph Curry to the floor for the first time.

The acquisition will require Harden to move from point guard and head coach Mike D’Antoni will have his hands full this summer redrafting a Houston offense that accommodates the two ball dominant talents.

The trade will not be finalized until after free agents can sign.

Rumors are circulating that Daryl Morey and the Rockets are not done yet.