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Each NBA team’s greatest free agent signing in franchise history

By Daniel Lubofsky

Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Chris Paul, Houston Rockets
Chris Paul, Houston Rockets. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets: Chris Paul, Point Guard (2017-Present)

In a move nobody saw coming during the summer of 2017, the Houston Rockets managed to pull off a sign-and-trade deal to acquire point guard Chris Paul. At the time, “CP3” was still regarded as one of the best at his position, but his fit alongside one particular teammate rose more questions than answers.

Out of all five positions, the point guard slot was thought to be the most assured in Houston. New head coach Mike D’Antoni had granted perennial NBA MVP candidate James Harden full control of the offense, unlocking his potential as one of the most potent offensive weapons the league had ever seen.

To get the most out of this now star-studded backcourt, both Paul and Harden would have to sacrifice if only slightly. If there was any discord in year one, neither showed it and the Rockets dominated on their way to a league-best 65-wins.

Come playoff time, Paul amped up his game, knowing full well this was his best chance at his first NBA title. He averaged 21.1 points, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game in helping Houston to a 3-2 series lead over the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

It was the closest the reigning two-time defending champions had come to elimination since adding Kevin Durant. If not for a right hamstring injury suffered by Paul with under a minute to go in Game 5, the Rockets may have sat here in the present day the 2017-18 NBA Champions.

Houston would run back a similar squad this past season, but the magic simply wasn’t the same, resulting in a second-round defeat at the hands of the Warriors once again.

What ifs are an often-played hypothetical involving some of the most important moments in league history. With an injury-riddled past tacked onto a contract set to pay him $124 million over the next three years, acquiring Paul is one Rockets general manager Daryl Morey may come to regret.

If not for a freak injury, whatever the future holds could have been all the worthwhile with an elusive championship trophy.