Chris Paul traded to Houston in exchange for seven players - 6/29/17
Rockets get: G Chris Paul
Clippers get: G Lou Williams, G Patrick Beverley, F Sam Dekker, F Montrezl Harrell, F Darrun Hilliard, F Kyle Wiltjer, 2018 first-round pick
Coming in at the halfway point on this list is the most recent trade. 13 months ago, the Rockets traded for future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul.
When the trade broke, many criticized whether placing two point guards: Paul and James Harden on the floor at the same time was the correct move.
The Rockets then responded with a 65-17 regular season, the best in franchise history. As of now, this trade is #5, but at the end of his career, this trade could be even higher on the list.
James Harden may have won last year’s Most Valuable Player award, but CP3 definitely gave him the assist like a good neighbor would. CP3 became another ball-dominant guard that would take some of the offensive pressure off Harden, allowing the Beard to develop a more all-around game.
Having CP3 on the squad also gave the team a jolt of leadership that took the team to the next level and gave them the status of a true contender last season. No team had ever taken the Durant-led Warriors to Game 6, and the Rockets one-upped everyone and took them to Game 7.
When CP3 hurt his hamstring in the waning moments of Game 5, there was no question that the team missed his presence when they would go on to lose Games 6 and 7 of the Western Conference Finals in crushing fashion.
As for the Los Angeles Clippers, they did not leave this trade empty-handed. Although Darrun Hilliard and Kyle Wiltjer never played a game for the team and Sam Dekker played sparingly in his only season with the club, the team got some nice pieces for the next several years.
Lou Williams became the face of the team after Blake Griffin was traded and he gained All-Star recognition and a lengthy contract extension in the middle of the year. Williams had a true renaissance in his first season with the team and pushed a Clippers team well beyond its expectations in his first year.
Montrezl Harrell also earned a new contract with the team in the offseason and had his best year in the league in his first season with the Clippers. Now with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in new uniforms, Harrell could be the big man of the future.
Patrick Beverley was hurt most of last season but can be a true dynamo on defense and a mentor to the Clippers rookie point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Because the trade is so recent, the chapter is mostly unwritten. However, Paul definitely made enough of an impression in his first season to land at #5 on this list. Here’s to hoping his impact will allow him to climb on any potential future list we may produce and his status in Rockets lore.