The arms race to dethrone the Golden State Warriors juggernaut took a surprising turn Wednesday morning, with news of an impending blockbuster trade that will send LA Clippers superstar Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Lou Williams and a 2018 first-round pick.
But did it make the Rockets, who surprisingly won 55 games in their first year under coach Mike D'Antoni, all that much better? Simply adding another superstar is no guarantee of instant success, as we saw in 2016-17 when the New Orleans Pelicans failed to reach the postseason after adding DeMarcus Cousins at the trade deadline to pair with Anthony Davis in their frontcourt.
With Paul and James Harden in tow, there's no question one of the NBA's best backcourts now resides in the Space City. But beyond that lies uncertainty. Vote now on the biggest questions on the heels of this trade.
The first day of the 2017-18 NBA calendar, which triggers the beginning of free agency, is still three days away. The NBA's power balance may not yet be done shifting.
-- Brendan C. Hall
