Is one backcourt big enough for Chris Paul and James Harden?
We're about to find out as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports' The Vertical reports that the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to trade Paul, an All-Star point guard, to the Houston Rockets, where he'll join Harden, the NBA MVP runner-up this past season.
More from Woj's report:
Paul, 32, agreed to opt into the final year of his $24.2 million contract, clearing the way for the Clippers to execute a trade with the Rockets and bring back assets for Paul, league sources said.
The Rockets will send the Clippers a package that includes guards Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams, forward Sam Dekker and a 2018 first-round pick (protected Nos. 1-3), league sources told The Vertical. There are smaller parts to the deal, including non-guaranteed contracts, league sources said.
Paul had until Wednesday to opt out of the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.
Boston Celtics
Paul had informed the Clippers he planned to sign with the Rockets as a free agent but asked them to work out a trade, according to Woj. Paul will become a free agent in 2018, but the Rockets will have his "Larry Bird" rights and can re-sign him to a $205 million max deal then.
NBA free agency begins Saturday.