Suns land CP3 from Thunder in blockbuster deal

The Phoenix Suns acquired Chris Paul and Abdel Nader from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, and a 2022 first-round pick, the teams announced.

The draft pick included in the deal is protected if it's a selection from one to 12 in 2022, one to 10 in 2023, one to eight in 2024, and unprotected in 2025, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Paul is coming off a resurgent 2019-20 campaign with the Thunder. He averaged 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, five rebounds, and 1.6 steals as he earned his 10th career All-Star selection and fourth All-NBA second-team honor.

"We want to thank Chris for the contributions he has made to the Thunder and the Oklahoma City community both this season and during his initial tenure in 2005-06 with the Hornets," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. "Chris has been the consummate leader and has left a tremendous legacy in a short period of time.

"We wish him and Abdel and their families only the best moving forward. We also look forward to welcoming Ricky, Kelly, Ty, and Jalen to Oklahoma City and are excited for them to join the Thunder program."

The move also reunites Paul with Monty Williams, his head coach during his final season with the New Orleans Hornets.

Oubre has impressed since coming over to Phoenix two years ago in a midseason deal with the Washington Wizards, averaging 17.9 points. The 24-year-old is under contract through the end of the upcoming campaign.

Rubio gives Oklahoma City another veteran guard to play alongside rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Spaniard finished fourth in the NBA last season with 8.8 assists per game and is locked in for two more seasons.