Chris Paul’s journey through the NBA has seen him move between several teams, each time making a significant impact and often being part of major trades. Here’s a brief overview of his notable trades and their contexts:
1. Traded to the Clippers (2011)
Chris Paul was a central figure for the ‘Lob City’ Clippers of the early 2010s.
Clippers Receive:
- Chris Paul
- Cash considerations
- 2015 second-round pick (Arturas Gudatis later selected)
Hornets Receive:
- Al-Farouq Aminu
- Eric Gordon
- Chris Kaman
- 2012 first-round pick (Austin Rivers later selected)
The Buzz: Paul was traded from the New Orleans Hornets to the Clippers just before the 2011-12 season. In L.A., he became the centerpiece of the “Lob City” Clippers alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Despite the excitement and regular playoff appearances, the Clippers never advanced past the Western Conference semifinals during his tenure.
2. Traded to the Rockets (2017)
Rockets Receive:
- Chris Paul
Clippers Receive:
- Patrick Beverley
- Sam Dekker
- Montrezl Harrell
- Darrun Hillard
- DeAndre Liggins
- Lou Williams
- Kyle Wiltjer
- Cash considerations
- 2018 first-round pick (Omari Spellman later selected)
The Buzz: Paul joined forces with James Harden in Houston, creating one of the most formidable backcourts in the league. They nearly reached the NBA Finals in 2018 but fell short due to Paul’s hamstring injury in the Western Conference Finals, which the Rockets lost in Game 7.
3.Paul traded to Thunder (2019)
Chris Paul and a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander teamed up for 1 season in Oklahoma City.
Thunder Receive:
- Chris Paul
- 2021 first-round pick swap
- 2024 first-round pick
- 2025 first-round pick swap
- 2026 first-round pick
Rockets Receive:
- Russell Westbrook
The Buzz: After Houston traded for Russell Westbrook, Paul was sent to the Thunder. Despite expectations of a rebuild, Paul led OKC to a surprising 44-28 record and was a key mentor for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His time in Oklahoma City was short-lived as the Thunder continued their rebuild.
4. Paul traded to Suns (2020)
In Phoenix, Chris Paul teamed with Kevin Durant and during the 2022-23 season.
Suns Receive:
- Chris Paul
- Abdel Nader
Thunder Receive:
- Ty Jerome
- Jalen Lecque
- Kelly Oubre Jr.
- Ricky Rubio
- 2022 first-round pick (Peyton Watson)
The Buzz: Paul’s arrival in Phoenix marked a turning point for the Suns. He helped lead them to their first NBA Finals since 1993, although they fell to the Milwaukee Bucks. The following season, the Suns had the best record in the league but were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks.
Enter Paul, who teamed with All-Star guard Devin Booker, talented big man Deandre Ayton and a deep cast of role players. The Suns went 51-21, finishing with the No. 2 mark in the West, but Paul was at his best in the playoffs. He delivered in Game 6 of the West Finals to send Phoenix to its first Finals since 1993. Despite building a 2-0 lead in the series, though, Paul and the Suns couldn’t overtake the Milwaukee Bucks and lost the series in Game 6.
The following season was outstanding for Phoenix as it went 64-18 and was the No. 1 overall seed for the 2022 playoffs. That meant little, though, in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals as Phoenix was blasted by 33 points behind the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks. Phoenix took a decided step back (45-37) in 2022-23 and reached the West semis, falling to eventual-champion Denver in six games.
Roughly a week or so after the Nuggets clinched their title, news broke of Paul being dealt to the Wizards. Days later, he was reportedly headed to Golden State, where he is set to team with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and coach Steve Kerr.
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