When Chris Paul landed in the laps of the Oklahoma City Thunder in their blockbuster deal with the Houston Rockets, many assumed they would instantly trade the veteran guard.
However, Paul is still on the Thunder, and it seems like he's ready to take this young squad under his wing.
In an article by Brett Dawson of The Athletic, Thunder general manager Sam Presti spoke volumes about how CP3 has invigorated his new squad with his leadership:
But Presti deferred questions about Paul’s state of mind to Monday, when the Thunder will hold media day. Instead, he focused on Paul’s impact so far in Oklahoma City, noting that soon after he was traded he asked for phone numbers of other Thunder players and “built really good relationships with like the entire group,” Presti said.
Paul “galvanized the group,” said Presti, who called him a “craftsman” and a “technician” and predicted Paul will have “a really, really good year.”
Presti tore down Oklahoma City's roster by trading away franchise stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George in separate deals in the same summer. The Thunder received a massive haul of future draft picks and a promising young stud in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Then there's Danilo Gallinari along with Paul, who is way out of the timeline Presti has in mind for OKC.
However, it seems as if Paul doesn't mind starting the 2019-20 season with a team that is clearly on the rebuild, at least for now.
CP3 should get traded at some point in the future. It could even happen as soon as this season. Nevertheless, you have to applaud the 34-year-old's mindset and professionalism as he heads into his 15th NBA season.
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