ROCKETS RAMP UP TITLE HOPES WITH CLUTCH LEADER CHRIS PAUL

The Houston Rockets acquired point guard Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers for combo guard Lou Williams, point guard Patrick Beverley, center/power forward Montrezl Harrell, combo forward Sam Dekker, combo forward Kyle Wiltjer, swingman Darrun Hilliard, swingman DeAndre Liggins, a first-round draft pick in 2018 and cash.

What does it give the Houston Rockets
This massive deal solves a lot of key issues for the Rockets. First, they add a bona fide elite player to line up alongside incumbent superstar James Harden. It's simply near-impossible to contend for an NBA title--especially lately--without multiple superstars on the same team, and the Paul-Harden duo helps Houston rival the likes of Golden State, Cleveland, and San Antonio. Second, Paul provides the clutch veteran leadership Houston needs to take the next step. Harden is a true elite, but his history of coming up short in the playoffs is well-documented and Paul immediately takes pressure off. General manager Daryl Morey just traded roughly half his team for an aging star, so it's clear the Rockets are in 'win-now' mode.

What does it give the Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are proof that having three elite players on one team--Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan--doesn't guarantee a title or even a Finals appearance. That said, nothing could have gut the Clips' title chances more than Paul leaving, and that's what is happening here. It's anyone's guess which of the seven Clippers newcomers will still be around on opening day, but there is definitely talent among them; Harrell and Dekker are young and have starter tools, while Beverley and Williams are two of the NBA's top role players. The first-round draft pick signals a rebuild may be coming soon for L.A.

Fantasy impact
Paul and Harden should stay super-productive now that they'll be backcourt mates, although Harden should probably see a slight fantasy drop-off because he'll all-too-likely handle the ball less with Paul around. That said, third scorer Ryan Anderson should benefit fantasy-wise the most among current Rockets players. On the Clippers side of the equation it's probably not wise to speculate firmly on any fantasy values at this point; the Clips now have enough roster players for over four 5-man units, and several of those guys will be gone by the time the summer is over.