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BASKETBALL

Chris Paul To Houston In Exchange For Sam Decker, Patrick Beverley And Lou Williams

Chris Paul who played two seasons  2003-2004 -2004-2005  at Wake Forest under the late Skip Prosser is now on the move once again this off-season. After playing for New Orleans and Los Angeles the veteran point guard is now headed to Texas. 

It was announced today that the Los Angeles Clippers will trade Chris Paul as Houston has agreement on the trade. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets

In exchange, Houston will send  Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams and a top-three protected 2018 first-round pick to the Clippers in exchange for Paul. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets

Paul had been planning to decline the player option on his contract and wanted to play with Rockets All-Star James Harden, according to The Vertical, which first reported the trade. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets

Paul met with the Clippers on Tuesday and didn't like what he heard from the team. He informed them on Tuesday night that he planned to leave in free agency if he declined his option. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets

The Clippers were determined to get something for Paul rather than lose him for nothing, sources told ESPN, so Paul instead agreed to opt-in for the final year of his contract (worth $24.2 million) to facilitate the trade. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets

The Rockets will have to make another move to make the financials work before they can officially acquire Paul, Windhorst reports. And, once their trade for Paul is official, Houston still might also try to acquire All-Star Paul George from the Indiana Pacers, according to Windhorst. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets

Since he is being acquired in a trade, Paul will be eligible for a five-year deal worth an estimated $205 million from the Rockets after this season. If the nine-time All-Star had opted out and signed with a team other than the Clippers in free agency, the most a team could offer was a four-year deal worth just more than $152 million. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets

The trade had an immediate effect on both team's odds to win the title in Las Vegas. The Rockets' odds improved from 30-1 to 15-1 at the Westgate SuperBook, while the Clippers' odds fell from 40-1 to 100-1. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets

Besides the Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs also had been planning to pursue Paul aggressively if he had become a free agent, sources have told ESPN. "according to http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19758509/la-clippers-trade-chris-paul-houston-rockets