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SPORTS Thursday 29 June 2017

Rockets acquire Chris Paul from Clippers in 8-player deal

By KRISTIE RIEKEN each of Paul’s six seasons
AP Sports Writer with the team, but the Clip-
HOUSTON (AP) — Chris Paul pers were eliminated in the
is heading to Houston to first round three times and
join James Harden, and in the Western Conference
the Rockets will soon have semifinals three other times.
two All-Stars in the back- Perhaps the most crushing
court to lead their chase playoff series loss of his ten-
for a championship. ure with the Clippers came
In the NBA’s second block- to the Rockets in 2015.
buster trade in less than Los Angeles had a 3-1 lead
a week, the Rockets ac- in the conference semifi-
quired Paul from the Los An- nals before Houston won
geles Clippers on Wednes- the last three games of the
day in exchange for Pat- series to send Paul and the
rick Beverley, Lou Williams, Clippers home early yet
Sam Dekker, Montrezl Har- again. The Clippers were
rell, Darrun Hilliard, DeAn- eliminated in the first round
dre Liggins, Kyle Wiltjer, a the past two seasons and
protected first-round pick Paul isn’t the only star who
next year and cash consid- may be leaving.
erations. The Rockets ac- Blake Griffin informed the
quired Hilliard from Detroit team last week that he is
and Liggins from Dallas for opting out of the last year In this Feb. 24, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) goes up under the
cash considerations before of his contract to explore basket, next to Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) during the first half of an NBA
basketball game in Los Angeles.
adding them to the deal. free agency. J.J. Redick is
Both the Clippers and also a free agent. In Hous- bounds in 23 games for
Houston will look far dif- ton, Paul joins a team that Houston after the trade.
ferent next season than was eliminated by the San Dekker, the 18th pick in the
they did in falling short in Antonio Spurs in the confer- 2015 draft, missed all but
the playoffs again just six ence semifinals last season. three games as a rookie
weeks ago. The roster over- With Harden’s move to because of back surgery.
hauls come five days after point guard last season, The small forward was
Minnesota sent three play- Paul’s role will probably be healthy this season and ap-
ers to Chicago for All-Star a bit different than it has peared in 77 games and
Jimmy Butler to kick things been in Los Angeles. But he averaged 6.3 points and
off with NBA free agency will add another scoring di- 3.6 rebounds.
opening on Saturday. mension in replacing Bev- Harrell, a second-round
The 32-year-old Paul will erley in the starting lineup. pick in 2015, averaged 6.9
soon be playing for his third Beverley received NBA de- points and 2.9 rebounds
team after opting in for the fensive first team honors in two seasons in Houston.
last year of his contract so last week, but averaged Wiltjer spent most of his
the Clippers could work just 9.3 points in his five sea- rookie season last year in
on a deal. The nine-time sons with the Rockets. He’s the D-league after going
All-Star has averaged 18.7 the only Houston starter in- undrafted out of Gonzaga.
points, 9.9 assists, 4.4 re- volved in the deal, with Wil- Houston also acquired
bounds and 2.3 steals over liams and Dekker playing Ryan Kelly from Atlanta
his 12-year career, though reserve roles last season. and Tim Quarterman from
he has been dogged with Williams, the 2014-15 NBA Portland for cash consid-
criticism in recent years for Sixth Man of the Year, was erations and Shawn Long
failing to help the Clippers traded to the Rockets from from Philadelphia for a fu-
get out of the second round the Los Angeles Lakers in ture second-round pick
of the playoffs. Los Angeles February. He averaged and cash considerations.q
reached the postseason in 14.9 points and three re-