NBA Christmas: A gift for each team’s wish list in 2018

Houston Rockets: A new hamstring for Chris Paul

Originally, something like a defensive wing would’ve fit nicely in the Houston Rockets‘ stocking, but after Chris Paul exited the team’s game Thursday night with a strained hamstring, that takes precedence over everything else.

It’s not just because the Rockets are 0-5 this season, or because he has a history of hamstring injuries.  It’s also because he just signed a whopping four-year, $160 million contract that extends through his age-36 season, and starting off year one with a kind of setback like this is extremely worrisome.

Houston is only one game above .500 at the moment, clinging to the final playoff spot out West. It’s still early, of course, and James Harden is playing like a man on fire at the moment, but the Rockets could be in big trouble if CP3 misses significant time … or worse, if this injury rears its ugly head again down the road.