Perhaps the most surprising move of the NBA off-season so far has seen Chris Paul traded to the Golden State Warriors despite years of rivalry, but it seems the former Phoenix Suns star was not the Warriors' first choice.
The 12-time All-Star was acquired by Golden State from the Washington Wizards last week – although the league is yet to confirm the deal – in return for a haul including 24-year-old combo guard Jordan Poole. The deal came just days after the Wizards acquired Paul in the agreement that sent Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns.
Throughout a career that has taken in many stops in the Western Conference, Paul and the Warriors have long held a rivalry that peaked when he was with the Houston Rockets for the 2018 conference finals. Golden State edged the series in Game 7 and they went on to sweep the Cleveland Cavaliers to clinch the NBA title.
