Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob talked about the Chris Paul trade during an interview with NBA writer Tim Kawakami of The Athletic. Lacob was initially surprised Paul was being mentioned as a trade target for the Warriors.
“Chris Paul? When I first heard that and thought about it, was like, ‘Really?’” Lacob said. “It seemed highly unlikely we would do that. But the more we thought about it and considered our options, we thought, ‘Hey, he’s a great player. He’s always made other people better.’ He hasn’t won a championship yet, but maybe he can do that with our group. It would be a hell of a storybook ending to his career or year-ending, if he was able to do it with us. We kinda warmed to the idea.”
The Warriors traded Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards for Paul, who is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. Golden State is expected to start Paul, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green next season.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Chris Paul, Joe Lacob, Golden State Warriors Updates
Paul averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists last season for the Phoenix Suns while shooting 44.0% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc and 83.1% from the free-throw line. The Suns traded Paul to the Wizards in the Bradley Beal trade and then Washington dealt him to Golden State. Paul was on a plane to New York when Phoenix traded him. He was then playing basketball at his gym in North Carolina when the Warriors acquired him.
Paul is 38 and no longer a superstar in the NBA. However, he can focus on passing with the Warriors since Curry, Thompson and Wiggins will be the primary scorers.
It’s going to be strange to see Paul play for the Warriors. In 2018, Paul’s fake laugh at head coach Steve Kerr went viral on social media. Most recently, Curry told Paul, “This ain’t 2014 no more” during a matchup against the Suns in March.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Chris Paul, Joe Lacob, Golden State Warriors Updates
However, Paul is looking forward to being on the other side of his rivalry with the Warriors.
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