As the NBA offseason is filled with exciting trade moves, one trade that raised eyebrows was the arrival of Chris Paul to the Warriors.
The trade, which sent Jordan Poole and others to the Wizards in exchange for the veteran point guard, sparked discussions among fans and players alike. One player who openly shared his thoughts on the trade is DeMarcus Cousins.
In an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, Cousins candidly admitted, “Imma be honest. I didn’t understand the Chris Paul trade. As far as it being about basketball and X’s and O’s on the court, I don’t really see that elevating the Golden State Warriors to be honest.”
Cousins acknowledged Paul’s storied career but emphasized that his age might limit his impact on the team. The trade also involved giving up a young talent like Jordan Poole, which further puzzled the former Warrior.
“He is up in the age,” he said. “You got rid of a young youthful guy [Jordan Poole] for an ageing veteran. And I’m not taking away anything Chris Paul has done throughout his career. I’m just speaking on this stage of his career. I don’t see him elevating the Golden Sate Warriors.
“And hey, I could be wrong. He could go find fountain of youth this summer and come out and win the MVP, I don’t know, Sixth Man of the Year, who knows. But based on what I’ve seen in this stage of his career and the addition to the team, I don’t see that really elevating the Golden State Warriors.”
Chris Paul, who turned 38 during the 2022-23 season, had an impressive career but saw a dip in his statistical output with a career-low 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game.
