Chris Paul went to Golden State in Trade from Wizards

The Washington Wizards are planning to trade Chris Paul to Golden State for guard Jordan Poole after reaching an agreement earlier this week to acquire Paul from the Phoenix Suns, according to a person familiar with the deals who was not authorized to discuss them publicly.

The plan, that was first reported by ESPN on Thursday, just hours before the NBA draft, a chaotic off-season continues for Paul, a 12-time All-Star guard who has spent the past three seasons in Phoenix. Paul, 38, said he was taken by surprise Sunday when he learned the Suns planned to trade him to Washington. The Wizards’ deal with the Suns is expected to send Bradley Beal, a three-time All-Star guard, to Phoenix, according to the person.

“Seriously, it’s part of the business, and you realize nobody owes you anything,” Paul said in an interview with The New York Times on Monday about the Suns trading him. “No matter how you treat them or what you do, you realize that in this industry no one owes you anything, as they should.”

At Golden State, Paul would team up with guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, with whom he made three playoff appearances, most memorable being the 2018 Western Conference Finals with the Houston Rockets. Golden State defeated Houston in seven games that year and then won Cleveland in the NBA Finals. Paul didn’t win a title, but he helped lead the Suns to the Finals in 2021.

Paul has scored less in recent years and missed time with injuries. In the 2022–23 season, he averaged a career-high 13.9 points per game. But teaming up with Curry may be his best shot at winning an elusive championship.

This story will be updated.