Houston re-sign Paul

The Houston Rockets have re-signed free agent Chris Paul, extinguishing any doubts the point guard would be in Texas next season. Following his move to Houston from the LA Clippers, Paul became an instant crowd favourite at the Toyota Center, playing a key role in the Rockets impressive run in the playoffs. While there were some worries Paul could be on the move this summer, this news will come as a huge boost to those Rockets fans still stinging from yet another painful playoff campaign.

In his first season in Texas, Paul averaged an impressive 18.6 points, 7.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.66 blocks, averaging 21 points in the postseason. The veteran is now sixth in the NBA's all-time rankings for assists, 11th in steals, second in free throw percentage and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio. Playing for the Rockets, the franchise went 50-8 with Paul in the team during the regular season, including a staggering 23-2 when the guard scored at least 20 points during an outstanding debut campaign in Houston. 



For a team that is priced at around 8/1 with the latest NBA betting odds to win the championship next season, having a player of the calibre of Paul will undoubtedly improve Houston's chances of actually making the finals next season. The nine-time All-Star might be the wrong side of 30, but he's still one of the best guards in the league, averaging a career-high 2.5 3-pointers last season, hitting at least three 3-pointers on 30 occasions during his first season with the Rockets.

March saw Paul achieve another record; his 2,000 career steal, joining the likes of Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and John Stockton as the only players in NBA history to have at least 8,000 assists and 2,000 steals. Averaging at least 18 points per game in his last two seasons, there is no doubt Paul is worth keeping around if the Rockets are going to have any chance of winning a third championship. There is no doubt this Houston side has the talent to win a championship, but having a player with the experience of Paul could well prove to be the difference next season. 

Perhaps the only surprising aspect of Paul's new deal is the length of it. The 33-year old's new contract will run until the end of the 2021/22 season, a long deal for a player well into his thirties, earning Paul $160 million during that time. With a number of injury concerns surrounding him, there are some who feel this new deal is something of a risk considering his age and fitness problems last season. The fact is that on his day, Paul is still one of the best in the business, and more than capable of mixing it with the best and youngest guards in the NBA. While he might be costing more than 99% of the 33-year olds in the league, when you look at his record you'd be hard-pressed to claim Houston could find a better option elsewhere.